Tender Sizzling Hush Puppies

Flavorful
Description

Fluffy hush puppies served with a sweet and spicy butter make for the ultimate appetizer.

Ingredients
  • canola oil, for frying
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3 ounces), frozen
  • 1 yellow onion (about 6 ounces), peeled and halved lengthwise
  • 3/4 cup fine yellow cornmeal (such as marsh hen mill jimmy red cornmeal)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/8 ounces)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
Directions
  1. Heat 2 inches of oil in a large Dutch oven over medium to 350°F. Meanwhile, grate frozen butter using the large holes of a box grater into a medium bowl; transfer butter to freezer. Grate onion using the large holes of box grater; squeeze onion in a double layer of paper towels to remove as much liquid as possible. Reserve 1/2 cup squeezed grated onion; discard any remaining grated onion or reserve for another use.
  2. Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large bowl until well combined. Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and grated onion in a separate medium bowl until well combined. Pour buttermilk mixture over cornmeal mixture, and top with frozen grated butter. Fold together until just combined. Batter will be a thick pancake batter consistency.
  3. Working in batches, drop spoonfuls of batter (about 1 1/2 tablespoons each) into hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook, turning occasionally, until crispy, golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Transfer hush puppies to a paper towel–lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.