Hush Puppies & Fried Fish

Chef Pamela

Hush Puppies

Active Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup minced onion
• 2 cups vegetable oil

Directions

1.    Add dry ingredients to bowl:

Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture.

2.    Combine wet and dry ingredients:

Stir together egg and buttermilk.

Add mixture to dry ingredients. Stir until moistened. Stir in onion. 

3.    Fry hush puppies:

Pour oil into 10-inch cast iron skillet, and heat to 375°F. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls into oil, and fry in batches 3 minutes on each side or until golden.

Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately. 

Variations

Bacon-and-Caramelized Onion Hush Puppies

Increase onion to 1 1/2 cups. Cook 5 bacon slices in a medium skillet over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp; drain bacon on paper towels, reserving 2 Tbsp. drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon.

Sauté onion in hot drippings over medium-low heat 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Proceed with recipe as directed, stirring in onion and bacon with cornmeal mix.

Jalapeño-Pineapple Hush Puppies

Prepare recipe as directed, stirring in 1/2 cup canned pineapple tidbits and 2 to 3 Tbsp. seeded and diced jalapeño pepper with cornmeal mix in Step 2.

Shrimp & Corn Hush Puppies

 Prepare recipe as directed, reducing buttermilk to 3/4 cup and stirring 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked shrimp (about 3/4 lb. peeled) and 1 (8 1/4-oz..) can cream-style corn into batter. 

Tartar Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 cup real Mayonnaise
• 1 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. dill, fresh or frozen, OR 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 2 Tbsp. onion, finely chopped, optional

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
2. Add more lemon juice or pickles if desired.

Breading Procedure for Fish and Shrimp:

·         Seasoned fish or shrimp

·         Flour

·         Egg wash

·         Crumbs

·         Pan for breaded product

Season shrimp or fish. Dip in flour, dip in egg wash, then coat in bread crumbs.

Deep fry in a pan with enough oil to cover the fish. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F. Add the fish and cook until golden brown. How long will depend on the thickness of the fish you are using.

Drain on a rack, serve with Hush Puppies, tartar sauce, lemon and coleslaw.