Easy and delicious hush puppy recipe that tastes just like Captain D’s!
Captain D’s Hush Puppy
Publisher: Pithy Recipe
Cuisine: American
Category: Appetizer, Side dish
Prep Time: Cook Time: Servings: 5
Calories: 180 calories
What’s this?
Captain D’s Hush Puppies are a classic Southern-style side dish that are typically served alongside seafood dishes. They are small, fried balls of batter that have a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior.
The batter for Captain D’s Hush Puppies is made with a combination of yellow cornmeal and all-purpose flour, which gives them a slightly sweet and slightly savory taste. The batter also includes a variety of spices, including onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper, which adds a nice depth of flavor and a touch of heat.
Chopped onions are also mixed into the batter, which provides a sweet and slightly crunchy texture to the hush puppies. Once the batter is mixed together, it is fried in hot vegetable oil until golden brown and crispy.
Captain D’s Hush Puppies are typically served as a side dish or appetizer and can be enjoyed with a variety of dipping sauces, such as tartar sauce or ketchup. They are a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for any occasion.
Recipe
Make crispy and flavorful Captain D’s Hush Puppies at home with this easy recipe. Perfect for seafood or as a snack. Get the recipe now!
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Method Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Add the chopped onion, milk, and beaten egg to the dry ingredients, and mix until well combined.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large heavy pot to 350°F (175°C).
- Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of batter into the hot oil, frying in batches until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Remove the hush puppies with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels.
- Serve hot, with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Rated: 5.0 of 5.0 from 10 reviews.
Recipe Tags: Captain D’s Hush Puppy, Captain D’s Hush Puppy Recipe, Recipe
Servings
Captain D’s Hush Puppies are typically served as a side dish or appetizer alongside seafood dishes such as fried fish, shrimp, or crab cakes. They can also be served as a snack or party food.
When serving Captain D’s Hush Puppies, you can arrange them on a platter or in a basket lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. You can also sprinkle some extra salt or Cajun seasoning over the top for added flavor.
As mentioned earlier, hush puppies are often served with dipping sauces such as tartar sauce, remoulade sauce, honey mustard, or ketchup. However, you can also serve them plain if you prefer.
Captain D’s Hush Puppies are best served hot and fresh out of the fryer, so be sure to serve them immediately after frying for the best taste and texture. Enjoy!
Tips
- Use a deep fryer or a heavy-bottomed pot with high sides: Hush puppies need to be fully submerged in hot oil for even frying. A deep fryer or a heavy-bottomed pot with high sides will help you achieve this.
- Maintain the oil temperature: Keep the oil temperature between 350°F (175°C) and 375°F (190°C) to ensure that the hush puppies fry evenly and have a crispy exterior.
- Don’t overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter can result in tough and dense hush puppies. Mix the batter until just combined, and avoid overmixing.
- Use finely chopped onions: Finely chopping the onions ensures that they cook evenly and incorporate well into the batter.
- Fry in small batches: Fry the hush puppies in small batches to prevent overcrowding in the fryer or pot, which can lower the oil temperature and result in soggy hush puppies.
- Drain excess oil: Once the hush puppies are fried, remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain them on paper towels to remove any excess oil.
- Serve immediately: Hush puppies are best served hot and fresh out of the fryer. Serve them immediately after frying for the best taste and texture.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Cornmeal: If you don’t have yellow cornmeal, you can use white cornmeal or a combination of both. You can also use corn flour or masa harina, which are both made from ground corn.
- All-purpose flour: You can use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour. If you want to make the recipe gluten-free, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Sugar: If you prefer your hush puppies less sweet, you can reduce or omit the sugar. You can also use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a slightly different flavor.
- Baking powder: You can substitute baking soda for baking powder, but you’ll need to add an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, to activate it.
- Onion powder and garlic powder: If you don’t have onion powder or garlic powder, you can use fresh minced onion and garlic instead. Alternatively, you can use dried minced onion and garlic.
- Paprika and cayenne pepper: If you don’t have paprika or cayenne pepper, you can use chili powder or red pepper flakes instead. Be aware that these substitutes may have a slightly different flavor.
- Milk: You can use buttermilk or a non-dairy milk, such as almond milk or soy milk, instead of regular milk.
- Onion: You can use green onions or shallots instead of yellow onion for a milder flavor.
What more?
- The origin of hush puppies is unclear, but they are thought to have originated in the southern United States. The name “hush puppy” is said to come from the practice of throwing bits of fried dough to hungry dogs in order to quiet them down.
- Hush puppies are traditionally made with cornmeal and deep-fried, but there are many variations of the recipe that use different types of flour, spices, and ingredients.
- To make your hush puppies even more flavorful, you can add chopped bell peppers, jalapenos, or other vegetables to the batter. You can also experiment with different types of cheese or herbs.
- Hush puppies can be frozen after frying and reheated in the oven or microwave. However, they may lose some of their crispiness when reheated.
- Hush puppies are often served with seafood, but they can also be enjoyed on their own as a snack or side dish. They are especially popular at picnics, barbecues, and other outdoor events.
- Hush puppies can be a bit tricky to make, so don’t be discouraged if your first batch doesn’t turn out perfectly. With practice and patience, you’ll be able to make delicious hush puppies that everyone will love.
Remarks
Captain D’s Hush Puppies are the perfect side dish to any seafood meal. They are made with fresh ingredients and hand-scooped with care, so you can be sure they are always delicious.
The golden brown hush puppies are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, and they are perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of sweetness and saltiness. They are the perfect way to start your meal or to enjoy as a snack.
