If you’re having a backyard fish fry, hushpuppies are a must for the menu. Grating the onion gives these hushpuppies a sweet onion flavor without overpowering them. Serve this Southern fried delicacy with the tartar sauce recipe in the Friday Night Fish Fry (page 238).
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup self-rising flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 large eggs, beaten
1 ½ cups buttermilk
½ cup grated sweet onion
¼ cup sliced green onions
Canola oil, for frying
In a large bowl whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and garlic powder. Whisk in the eggs and buttermilk until they are just combined, and then stir in the sweet onions and green onions.
Pour 2 to 3 inches of oil into a Dutch oven or electric fryer, and heat to 375 degrees. Working in batches, drop tablespoonsful of batter into the oil, being careful not to overcrowd. Let the hushpuppies fry for about 2 minutes on each side. Once they are golden brown, drain them on paper towels. Serve warm.
MAKES 28 TO 30 SERVINGS.