Crab Hush Puppies
Crispy, golden cornmeal fritters mixed with tender crab meat, lightly seasoned and fried until fluffy inside and crunchy on the outside.
Servings 16 servings
Calories 226kcal
Ingredients
- 6 cups peanut oil or vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup yellow self-rising cornmeal
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp old bay seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups lump crab meat
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper small dice
- 3/4 cup green onions finely chopped
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven fitted with a fry thermometer, heat 4-5-inches of vegetable oil to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl use a whisk to sift the cornmeal, flour, sugar, old bay seasoning, salt, baking powder, baking soda, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne.
- In a separate medium bowl whisk together the eggs and buttermilk. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, mixing just until moistened.
- Fold in the crab meat, red bell pepper and green onions by hand.
- Drop batter carefully into the hot oil using a small scoop or a teaspoon. Fry in batches until golden brown turning as needed for even browning. (Around 4-5 minutes total).
- Use a slotted spoon to remove from the oil to a paper towel lined sheet pan to drain.
- Serve hot with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce or a spicy remoulade for dipping.
Notes
- Self-Rising Cornmeal Substitute - You can use plain yellow cornmeal. When doing so, increase the baking powder to 1 tablespoon to accommodate.
- Spices - You can use Creole seasoning or Cajun seasoning in place of seafood Old Bay seasoning.
- Imitation Crab - I highly recommend using authentic jumbo lump crab meat for this recipe. That said, if your budget doesn't allow, you could adapt it using imitation crab meat.
- Seafood Hush Puppies - You could adapt this recipe using shrimp to make shrimp hush puppies.
- Oil - You can use peanut oil or vegetable oil for this recipe.
- Frying Technique - I'm often asked if you can bake hushpuppies. This sort of sticky hush puppy batter is best deep fried. That said, you can reheat in the oven on a sheet pan once cooked.
- Sauces for Serving - We love these served with a size of tartar sauce and cocktail sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 336mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg