Bacon Scallion Hush Puppies Recipes

HUSH PUPPIES WITH CRAB AND BACON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with a double layer of paper towel. In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, baking powder and baking soda.
• In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk and bacon fat. Add to the cornmeal mixture and mix to combine. Stir in crab and bacon and season to taste. Allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes while oil heats.
• In a Dutch oven or other large pot, add enough oil to come to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium-high heat until oil is 350 to 360 degrees.
• Form batter into golf ball-sized balls (if batter is too dry to cohere well, stir in a bit more buttermilk). Drop balls into hot oil 5 or 6 at a time and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. As each batch is finished, place on baking sheet and put into the oven to keep warm. Serve accompanied by plenty of room-temperature butter.

CAST IRON HUSH PUPPIES

Steps:

• Combine onion, jalapeno, scallions and parsley in a food processor or blender, and pulse to a rough puree.
• Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, thyme and cayenne in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Add the vegetable puree and stir to combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. For best results, refrigerate the batter for at least 30 minutes before frying.
• Heat 3 inches of oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (preferably cast iron) over high heat until it reaches 350 degrees. Carefully add the batter to the hot oil 1 heaping tablespoon at a time, working in batches of six; use another spoon to scrape the batter into the oil, keeping it in a ball shape.
• Fry, turning, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain briefly. Transfer the hush puppies to a shallow baking pan and keep hot in a 200-degree oven while frying remaining batter. Heat the oil back to 350 degrees between batches.

BACON SCALLION HUSH PUPPIES

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until crisp. Transfer with a slotted spatula to paper towels to drain, then crumble.
• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) over high heat until it registers 320°F on thermometer.
• While oil is heating, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Whisk together egg and milk in a small bowl, then add to cornmeal mixture and stir until combined. Stir in bacon and scallions until just combined.
• Working in batches of 6, carefully add 1 tablespoon of batter per hush puppy to hot oil and fry, turning, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain briefly. Transfer hush puppies to a shallow baking pan and keep hot in oven while frying remaining batter. Return oil to 320°F between batches.