Roadhouse Cornmeal Hush Puppies with Green Chile Dip
Crisp cornmeal hush puppies come with a cool green chile dip for a snack that tastes ready for the highway.
Prep: 15 · Cook: 15 · Total: 30 · Serves: 6 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.7/5 (219 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
An original roadside snack inspired by Southern cornmeal fritters and the bright heat of roasted green chile.
Story
Theo wants a snack to have a little swagger, and these hush puppies bring it in a golden, craggy package. The green chile dip cools the fry and wakes up the cornmeal at the same time. Make a double batch if the table is crowded. They disappear with the speed of a diner order at closing time.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup finely diced scallions
- 1/2 cup finely diced roasted green chiles
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 lime, zested and juiced
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Whisk cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and smoked paprika in a large bowl.
- Stir in scallions and half of the green chiles, then add the egg and buttermilk and mix just until no dry streaks remain.
- Stir sour cream, the remaining green chiles, lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro in a small bowl, then chill the dip.
- Heat 1 1/2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy pot to 350 degrees F, or until a drop of batter sizzles immediately.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of batter into the oil in batches and fry, turning once, until puffed and deep golden, about 3 minutes total.
- Drain the hush puppies on a rack or paper towels, season lightly with salt, and serve hot with the green chile dip.
Chef Tips
- Keep the batter thick so the hush puppies hold their shape in the oil.
- Fry in small batches to keep the oil temperature steady.
- A small cookie scoop makes evenly sized fritters.
- For extra heat, use hot green chiles or add a pinch of cayenne.
Cook's Notes
- Do not overmix the batter or the centers can turn dense.
- Test one hush puppy first and adjust the oil heat before frying the batch.
- Drain on a rack to keep the crust crisp.
- The dip can be made up to 2 days ahead.