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!
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 5 Minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 22-24 Hush Puppies 1x
- Category: Side, Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups Medium-Ground Yellow Cornmeal
- 1/2 Cup Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
- Seasonings (Black Pepper, Cumin, Etc., to taste)
- 2 TB Minced Shallot (or Grated Onion)
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk + 1 Tsp White Vinegar
- 1 Flax Egg (1 TB Milled Flax Seed + 2 TB Water)
Instructions
- 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.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix in the seasonings (and optional large mix-ins) you choose to use and then add in the minced or grated onion.
- Now, pour in the prepped vegan buttermilk and flax egg. Mix everything together until combined and you have a thick, slightly sticky batter.
- Get out your air fryer and give the air fryer basket a quick spray of non-stick spray. In batches as to not overcrowd the air fryer basket, form 1 tablespoon-sized cornmeal batter balls and space them out in the air fryer basket.
- Set your air fryer temperature to 400ºF and air fry the hush puppies 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.
Notes
- Mix-Ins & Seasonings: You can add in a 1/4 to 1/3 cup of whole yellow corn kernels, diced jalapeno peppers, fresh or dried herbs, coconut bacon, or a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast! Use any spices and seasonings you'd like.
- 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.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 Hush Puppies
Keywords: vegan hush puppies, gluten-free hush puppies, air fried hush puppies