How To Make Ezell\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Famous Hushpuppies At Home

Ezell\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Hushpuppy Recipe: A Southern Delight

If you love crispy, golden, and fluffy hushpuppies, you'll want to try this recipe from Ezell's Fish Camp. Ezell's is a famous restaurant in Alabama that has been serving delicious Southern food since 1937. Their hushpuppies are one of their signature dishes, and they're easy to make at home with this recipe.

How to Make Ezell\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Famous Hushpuppies at Home

Hushpuppies are cornmeal fritters that are deep-fried until crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They're a perfect accompaniment to fried fish, barbecue, or any other Southern dish. Hushpuppies are also great for dipping in sauces like ketchup, honey mustard, or tartar sauce.

The secret to Ezell's hushpuppies is adding corn kernels, onion, and tomato to the batter. This gives them extra flavor and texture. They also use self-rising flour and cornmeal, which makes them rise and puff up in the oil. You can use a can of beer to thin out the batter if it's too thick.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup self-rising flour

• 1 1/4 cup self-rising white cornmeal

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1/2 cup whole kernel corn

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

• 2 1/2 cups finely chopped onion

• 1 plum tomato, finely chopped

• vegetable oil for frying

Directions

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.

• In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, corn, and egg.

• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.

• Stir in the onion and tomato.

• Pour oil to a depth of 2 inches into a Dutch oven or a large pot. Heat the oil to 375ÂF over medium-high heat.

• Drop the batter by rounded teaspoonfuls into the hot oil, in batches of about 5 at a time. Do not overcrowd the pot.

• Fry for about 2 minutes or until golden brown, turning once with a slotted spoon.

• Drain on a wire rack over paper towels.

• Keep warm in a 200ÂF oven until ready to serve.

Enjoy your Ezell's hushpuppies with your favorite dipping sauce or as a side dish to your main course. You can also freeze them for later use. Just reheat them in the oven or an air fryer until crisp again.

The History of Hushpuppies

The origin of hushpuppies is not clear, but there are many stories and legends that try to explain how they got their name and how they became a Southern staple. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Some say that hushpuppies were invented by Native Americans who used cornmeal as a main ingredient in their cooking. They would fry balls of cornmeal batter and eat them with fish or meat. The name hushpuppy may have come from the Native American word \"ushkata\", which means \"fried corn\".

• Others claim that hushpuppies originated in New Orleans in the 18th century, when French nuns who came to Louisiana adapted cornmeal from the local Indians and made croquettes de maise (corn croquettes). These were later called hushpuppies by English speakers who heard the French word \"choux\" (cabbage) and thought it sounded like \"shoe\" or \"shoo\". [^5^]

• Another story is that hushpuppies were created by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, who would fry leftover cornbread batter and toss it to their dogs to keep them quiet when Union troops were nearby. The soldiers would say \"hush, puppies!\" to calm their dogs and avoid detection. [^2^]

• A more common version is that hushpuppies were made by Southern fishermen, hunters, or cooks who would fry bits of cornmeal batter and feed them to their dogs to stop them from barking and begging for food. This practice was literally \"hushing\" the puppies, distracting them during cookouts or fish-fries. [^2^]

• A more humorous tale is that hushpuppies were made by Cajuns in Southern Louisiana, who would catch mud puppies (salamanders) from the swamps, batter them, and deep-fry them. They would then serve them to unsuspecting guests, who would be surprised by the taste and appearance of the fried creatures. The Cajuns would say \"hush, puppy!\" to reassure their guests that they were eating something good. [^2^]

Whatever the true origin of hushpuppies, they have become a beloved part of Southern cuisine and culture. They are often served at festivals, fairs, picnics, and family gatherings, where they bring people together with their warm and comforting taste. 04f6b60f66