Air Fryer Hush Puppies (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

A classic Southern side dish, these Air Fryer Hush Puppies give you a healthier twist! They're gluten-free, vegan, and don't need oil or deep-frying! Simple balls of cornmeal batter with a crispy outside and fluffy inside, this easy hush puppy recipe can be whipped up in just 10 minutes with no fuss! Savory, sweet, or spicy, season them just to your liking!

Hush puppies! The only way to enjoy that classic deep-fried Southern specialty nowadays is to air fry it! Such a simple side dish, this recipe is gluten-free and vegan, so if you've been missing those balls of corny fried dough then this super easy recipe is going life-changing! The best thing is you can flavor these hush puppies exactly to your specifications; some like them spicy, some would rather have them on the sweet side, it's all up to you!

What Are Hush Puppies?

There's always speculation when it comes to food history and the exact origins of certain foods. However, the general consensus is that during the Civil War era, corn was a cheap commodity, and Confederate soldiers would use extra cornmeal to fry up corn fritters/corncakes and throw them to their dogs to keep them from yapping and disclosing their location to the Union soldiers (i.e. "Hush Puppies!").

As the "recipe" evolved over the years, we now have a more modern Southern hush puppy that gets associated with fish fries. The fish, like catfish, is coated with cornmeal and fried in oil; leftover cornmeal is whipped up into a simple batter and fried in the same oil, which gives you a modern hush puppy! You'll also see them served alongside barbecue as well. Not to be confused with corn fritters though! Fritters contain flour, not cornmeal!

Ingredients You'll Need

This batter is super simple and easy to make, there is no-fuss and no frying oil to worry about!

• Yellow Cornmeal: The most important ingredient is the cornmeal! You want a medium ground (stone-ground) cornmeal. DO NOT use corn flour or masa. It needs to have that gritty texture as you would find with fritters.
• Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour + Baking Soda + Baking Powder: To give the hush puppies more structure, you'll need to use a small about of all-purpose flour. The baking powder and baking soda give the "balls" some rise and fluffiness.
• Shallot or Onion: You want to finely mince the onion, shallot, or green onion. Some people like to grate the onion. You want it super fine since the onion isn't getting cooked before being air-fried. By finely mincing or grating, you release the onion flavor you'd typically get when sauteing and you get the best texture (so you're not biting into a big piece of onion!)
• Seasonings: You can add whatever spices and herbs you'd like to your batter. Spices like black pepper, cumin, cayenne. Finely chopped jalapenos to make them spicy or cinnamon to make them a bit sweeter!
• Dairy-Free Buttermilk: To activate the baking soda and keep these hush puppies moist, you'll need some homemade vegan buttermilk! Using unsweetened plain non-dairy milk PLUS white vinegar. Mix the two together and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes to "curdle". If it doesn't fully curdle, don't worry, it will still work.
• Flax Egg: Finally you need a binder to hold this recipe together! A simple flax egg of milled flax seed and water will do the trick.

Healthy, Gluten-Free, & Vegan

This recipe is perfect if you've been missing this Southern staple due to your allergens and dietary restrictions! Plus, they're not deep-fried so much healthier than the traditional puppies, but just as delicious!

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Coconut-Free)
• Sugar-Free
• Oil-Free
• Kid-Friendly
• Quick and Easy

How To Make Hush Puppies In An Air Fryer

1. First, you'll need to mix together the milk and vinegar to make your buttermilk and prep your flax egg. Allow both of these to sit for 5 to 10 minutes while you prep the rest of your batter.
2. In a large bowl whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix in the seasonings you choose to use and then add in the finely minced or grated onion.
3. Now you can add in your wet ingreindts. Pour in the vegan buttermilk and flax egg. Mix everything together until everything is combined and you have a thick, slightly sticky batter. It's best to use your hands to combine the batter since it will be pretty dry. The batter should NOT be "wet" or drippy, like cake batter. It should just be able to hold together when you press it between your fingers.
4. Get out your air fryer and give the air fryer basket a quick spray of non-stick spray if you wish. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you'll need to do 2 to 3 batches. You do not want to overcrowd the air fryer basket. There should be plenty of room between the hush puppy balls so all sides can get hit with heat.
5. Using a tablespoon to help measure and form your hush puppy balls, scoop out 1 tablespoon of the cornmeal batter, slightly shape the edges to round, then place it in the air fryer.
6. Set your air fryer temperature to 400ºF and air fry the cornmeal scoops for 4-5 minutes. Just until they are slightly golden and crisp! Remove this first batch and continue with the rest of your batter until complete!

How To Serve

You can serve your fresh, piping hot hush puppies with any type of sauce or dip you'd like! A vegan tartar sauce, ranch dip, nacho cheese, mayo, or vegan butter would be great! They can be served as a side dish (to some fish if you're not vegan!), as an appetizer, party bite, or snack! They go great with other vegan Southern entrees like these cajun stuffed peppers or one-pot cajun pasta!

Additional Tips and Tricks

• Make It Sweet: To make more of a dessert-style hush puppy, you can add some cinnamon, a granulated sweetener, and even serve them with a sweet dairy-free yogurt for dipping!
• Make It Spicy: Some people love a spicy hush puppy, so feel free to add in more black pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder, or diced jalapenos (see below)!
• Mix-Ins: You can add in a ¼ to ⅓ cup of whole yellow corn kernels, diced jalapeno peppers, fresh or dried herbs, coconut bacon, even some savory vegan cheese flavor with a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast!
• Storing & Freezing: These are best eaten RIGHT away, however, if you have leftover hush puppies, you can store them in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. You can freeze them for 3-4 months in a freezer bag.
• Reheating: To reheat hush puppies from the fridge, you can toss them in the air fryer at 350ºF for a minute or two or heat them in the microwave on top of a damp paper towel for about 2 minutes. If they are frozen, allow them to thaw in the microwave for a minute or two before adding them to the air fryer to crisp back up.
• To Bake: If you DON'T have an air fryer, you can bake these. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat and bake the hush puppy balls at 450ºF for about 7-10 minutes, until they are slightly golden brown. You can also reheat leftovers in the oven as well, with the oven set to 400ºF and warming them for 5-8 minutes.

Other Southern Recipes to Try:

• Southern Vegan Banana Pudding
• Southern Tomato Sandwich
• Southern Potato Salad
• Gluten-Free Cornbread Stuffing
• Rustic Gluten-Free Cornbread
• Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes

Print

Simple, easy, and so much healthier. Quick and no messy clean-up either! I know you'll be making these hush puppies on a (weekly) basis when you need a quick gluten-free weeknight side dish!

So tell me:

+ Have you ever had hush puppies? When I think of them, I always think of eating them at Cracker Barrel (back in the day) with fried catfish, haha!

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