Crispy Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Crispy and golden hush puppies, quickly cooked in an air fryer. A delicious snack from Southern American cuisine.
Steps
- 1
In a bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Add the finely chopped onion and mix well.
- 2
Pour in the milk and crack the egg. Stir until a thick batter forms. Cover the bowl and let the batter rest for 5 minutes.
- 3
Preheat the air fryer to 177°C (350°F). Lightly spray the basket with oil.
- 4
Drop teaspoonfuls of batter into the basket, leaving space between them. Lightly spray with oil and cook for 3 minutes.
- 5
Carefully flip each hush puppy. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes until golden and crispy. Serve hot.
Shopping list
1 cup (150g) cornmeal, 3/4 cup (95g) all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1.5 tsp baking powder, 1 medium onion, 3/4 cup (180ml) milk, 1 large egg, 1/4 tsp sugar
Recipe story
Hush puppies are a culinary specialty originating from the southern United States, associated with African American cuisine. Legend has it that fishermen fried them to quiet their hungry dogs, and the name comes from the phrase 'hush, puppy!'. During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers prepared these cornmeal balls along riverbanks. The recipe has been passed down through generations, becoming an iconic dish of Southern cuisine.
Ingredient Secrets
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Onion
Probably originating in Central or West Asia, onions were cultivated in ancient Egypt, where they were considered a symbol of eternity and placed in tombs. In ancient Greece, athletes ate them to balance their blood, and in Rome, they were a staple food for soldiers. During the Middle Ages, onions were believed to protect against arrows and the plague.
Corn
Corn, native to Central America, was domesticated over 9,000 years ago in Mexico. After the discovery of the Americas, it spread rapidly to Europe, Africa, and Asia, becoming a global staple crop. Fun fact: in Italy, corn was called 'grano turco' (Turkish wheat) because it was believed to originate from the East.
