hush puppies

servings
25–30

method

Hush puppies are little savory doughnuts and I think they’re quite cool. I was told their name comes from the time of the Great Depression, when loads of people were going hungry. When they did get a bit of food, their hungry dogs would hang around whining, so they’d throw these little buns to them to keep them quiet. That might be an old wives’ tale, but if it is, I don’t care because I like the story. OK, they’re not the healthiest things on the planet, but every now and then . . . they’re not going to hurt you.

Put the cornmeal and flour into a bowl, add your beer, and leave to sit for a few minutes. Add the corn, sliced spring onions, grated cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper and use a fork or a spoon to mix it up really well. Once your batter is ready, pour your vegetable oil into a large sturdy pan and put it on a high heat. Please make sure you don’t move the pan about and that no one is running around the kitchen while you’re doing this, as hot oil can burn quite badly.

You want the oil to reach about 180ºC, so if you don’t have a thermometer get a small piece of potato and drop it into the pan. When it turns crisp and golden and rises to the top, the oil is ready to go. Get a tablespoonful of mix and carefully drop it into the hot oil. In Georgia they roll their batter into round balls, but I say just let it drop off the spoon: a bit scruffy and rustic feels right to me. You’ll need to cook them in batches.

Keep your eye on them and let them fry for about 3 to 4 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper. Sprinkle over a tiny bit of sea salt and a hit of paprika to finish them off, and serve right away, either on their own or as they do at roadside restaurants, as part of a meal with the amazing pork and slaw LINK TO RECIPE. Naughty but nice!

Wine suggestion:
French dry rosé from the Languedoc, or a cold beer

Find out more about Jamie’s American Road Trip tv show and Jamie’s America Book

ingredients

• 300g fine cornmeal or polenta
• 100g self-raising flour
• 1 x 330ml bottle of beer
• 100g fresh or frozen sweetcorn
• 4 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced
• 120g freshly and finely grated Cheddar cheese
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 liter vegetable oil
smoked paprika

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tried this recipe or a similar one? share your tips...

1. by rubber ducky on Wed 04 Jan 2012 @ 07:43

Savory doughnut!! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah!....But, Can I substitute polenta or corn meal with something else?thanx a bunch

2. by MsPablo on Mon 05 Oct 2009 @ 18:50

Jamie, in the Keys, they were served with spiced shrimp and honey was provided on the side, it does go very well with a savory dish that way. I imagine dropping them from a spoon gives the hushpuppies extra texture.

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