If you've never had hush puppies before, you're missing out. These savory, deep-fried little balls of dough are traditionally made with cornmeal and are pretty carb-heavy, so I’ve sadly had to give them up. But that's where this keto hush puppies recipe comes in! Now you can experience Southern comfort food at its best, low-carb and keto-friendly. These keto hush puppies are crispy and golden on the outside with a tender and fluffy center. They are easy to make from scratch using a few simple ingredients.
Missing hush puppies since you've gone keto? This recipe is super EASY, just mix up some ingredients and go! It’s fast and the taste is spot on. These taste just like cornbread but are even better because they are fried and oh so crispy! I would say these are exactly like traditional hush puppies, but with a lighter texture and without the carbs.
What You'll Need
Here's a breakdown of the key ingredients for these keto-friendly hush puppies:
- Almond flour: Use good quality, finely blanched ground almond flour. Since the combination of almond flour and coconut flour is essential, DO NOT substitute more almond flour for more coconut flour and vice versa.
- Coconut Flour: Again, I do not recommend substituting coconut flour for any other flour. Since almond flour and coconut flour don't substitute 1:1, if you want, you can use almond flour. you will probably need between ⅔ - 1 cup of almond flour.
- Baking powder: Make sure to use fresh baking powder. It loses its potency, so it’s good to replace it every six months.
- Onions: Both yellow and green onions are good choices for this recipe.
- Heavy whipping cream: Heavy cream keeps the hushpuppies moist. No one wants a dry and crumbly hushpuppy!
- Egg: The egg is a binder for the dough.
- High-quality oil: It’s essential to use an oil with a high smoke point. For example, Avocado oil is great for frying. It has a smoke point of 520 degrees. I used beef tallow oil for frying but you can use any keto-friendly cooking oil that you prefer.
Making Keto Hush Puppies: Step-by-Step
Here's how to create these delectable keto hush puppies:
Step 1: Prepare for Frying
Attach a candy thermometer to a Dutch oven or other large heavy pot, then pour in 3 inches of oil and set over medium-high heat. Heat the oil to 350-375 degrees F. It’s best to use a Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed heavy pot.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
Step 3: Mix the Batter
Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix until blended. Do not overmix. In a bowl mix together all your ingredients, finishing with egg and heavy cream. Add in egg and heavy cream to the flour mix. Place hush puppy batter in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill and set.
Step 4: Fry to Golden Perfection
Use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to gently drop the batter into the oil. Don't overcrowd the hushpuppies; cook them in two batches. Scoop a large tablespoon of batter and put in the hot oil - you should be able to fry about 4 at a time. Make sure your oil is HOT before dropping your hush puppies into fry. Fry for 3 minutes or until they start to brown, then use a mesh skimmer or slotted spoon to turn and fry them for 3 more minutes or until golden brown on all sides. Let them fry for about 3 minutes or until they turn golden brown, then fry the rest of the batter.
Step 5: Drain and Serve
Remove the hushpuppies from the oil and place them on a paper towel lined plate to drain. Place hush puppies on a paper towel to drain any excess oil. They are best served immediately. A little trick that I like to do is to drizzle just a little bit of melted butter over these golden hush puppies right before serving. With hush puppies being close to cornbread in flavor, I love adding a little sweetness to mine. Dip in your favorite keto dipping sauce such as ranch, ketchup, or cocktail sauce.
Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 24 cavity mini muffin pan with butter or nonstick spray.
- Combine the butter and cream cheese in a medium bowl, using a hand mixer until its a smooth uniform consistency.
- Add the eggs and mix again.
- Next, add the coconut flour, baking powder, seasonings and onion. Mix well.
- Evenly distribute the batter into the prepared mini muffin pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Air Frying Instructions
If you want to air fry your hush puppies, first preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Grease the basket with nonstick cooking spray. Scoop out a large tablespoon of batter and place as many hush puppies as you can in the basket without them touching. Next, scoop out about a tablespoon of batter and place it in the heated basket.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Tips for the Best Keto Hush Puppies
- Maintain Oil Temperature: Use a dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot to help maintain the temperature of the oil. It’s essential to maintain a consistent temperature when deep-frying. If the oil temperature is too low, the food will absorb the oil and become soggy instead of crispy. I use a candy thermometer to monitor and maintain a consistent temperature.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Adding too much food to the oil at one time will lower the temperature too quickly. That’s why it’s important to fry food in batches so as not to overcrowd the pot. When you are frying in batches, ensure the oil has returned to the ideal temperature before adding the next batch of food.
- Reusing Frying Oil: You could use a fresh batch of oil every time, but high-quality oils are expensive. The oil used for frying can be reused as long as it’s stored properly. Allow the oil to cool completely. Then, use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the oil into a container with a lid; a glass jar works well. Store oil in a cool, dry place. It does not have to be refrigerated. If the oil looks cloudy or smells bad, it’s time to discard it.
- Flavor Variations: Yes, you can add grated cheese, minced jalapeños, chopped herbs, or crumbled cooked bacon to the batter for extra flavor and texture.
Storing and Reheating
Don't worry if you make too many - these hush puppies are delicious leftover and can be stored in the fridge in a resealable bag or airtight container for up to 5 days. And if you want to freeze them, they'll last for up to 3 months. First, put them on a baking sheet in the freezer and allow them to freeze for a few hours until solid. Hushpuppies are best served hot. However, cooled hushpuppies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Then, reheat the hushpuppies in the oven at 400 degrees for 4-5 minutes to preserve the crispiness of the hushpuppies. You can reheat them in the oven or a toaster oven to maintain their crispiness.
A Note on Nutrition
The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. I recommend calculation your own macros, as they can widely vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use.
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