Hushpuppy facts for kids
A serving of hushpuppies
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| Alternative names | Hush-puppy, cornbread ball, corn dodgers |
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| Place of origin | North America |
| Main ingredients | Cornmeal |
A hushpuppy is a yummy, small, round ball of fried dough. It's made from a special mix called cornmeal batter. People often eat hushpuppies as a side dish with seafood or other fried foods.
Contents
The Story of Hushpuppies
The idea of cooking with ground corn started with Native Americans. They were the first to grow corn. Groups like the Cherokee and Seminole taught people in the Southern United States how to use corn. They would grind it into meal or treat it to make hominy.
During the American Civil War, cornbread was very popular. It was cheap to make and could be shaped in many ways. You could bake it into fluffy loaves or quickly fry it. Hushpuppies are strongly connected to the Southern United States. There's even a yearly championship in Lufkin, Texas, for making the best hushpuppies! You can find them in many restaurants that serve fried seafood.
How Hushpuppies Got Their Name
The word "hush-puppy" was first written down in 1899. People often say the name came from hunters or fishermen. They would fry some simple cornmeal dough. Then, they would give it to their dogs to "hush the puppies" during cook-outs. This helped keep the dogs quiet while everyone ate.
Another story says the name came from the American Civil War. Soldiers from the Confederate side supposedly threw fried cornbread to their barking dogs. This would make the dogs stop barking.
What's in a Hushpuppy?
Typical hushpuppies are made with cornmeal, wheat flour, eggs, salt, and baking soda. They also use milk or buttermilk and water. Sometimes, cooks add onion, spring onion, garlic, whole corn kernels, or peppers. Some recipes even use pancake batter!
How They Are Made
The ingredients are mixed well to make a thick batter. Then, spoonfuls of the batter are dropped into hot oil. The small dough balls are fried until they turn crispy and golden brown. After they cool, they are ready to eat. Hushpuppies are often served with seafood or barbecue foods. Many families make them at home, and restaurants often serve them as a "home-style" dish.
Hushpuppies Around the Caribbean
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In Jamaica, similar fried dough balls are called "festivals." They are made from flour and cornmeal dough, with salt and sugar added. These are shaped like hot-dog rolls and deep-fried. Festivals are sweeter than regular hushpuppies. They are often served with jerked meats like pork or chicken. They also go well with fried or escoveitch fish.
In Puerto Rico, hushpuppies are shaped like short sausages. They are called "sorullos" or "sorullitos." These tasty treats are often stuffed with cheese inside.
See also
In Spanish: Hushpuppy para niños
