Delicious Hush Puppies Recipe with Creamy Ranch Dressing
Learn how to make this easy, golden, deep-fried hush puppies recipe with broccoli stems and creamy homemade ranch dressing.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Hush Puppies are golden brown round balls on the outside that are light and flakey on the inside. They make an amazing side dish for your summertime BBQ or to pair with fried seafood, but they also make for a yummy mid-day snack. It doesn’t take many to fill your belly.
This hush puppies recipe uses broccoli stems instead of the head. Sounds weird, right? Aren’t you supposed to throw the broccoli stem in the trash, or better yet, the compost bin? No way! Broccoli stems are chock full of vitamins and nutrients. They have the same taste as broccoli heads, just a bit milder. These cheddar hush puppies made with broccoli stems are sure to delight.
The Official Broccoli Stem Hush Puppies Recipe
Ingredients & Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together 1-1/2 cups of cornmeal, 3/4 teaspoon of baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of sugar, 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon of ground black pepper until combined. Set aside the mixture.
In a separate, medium bowl, whisk together three large eggs (farm fresh is best!) and 1/4 cup of buttermilk until evenly combined. Stir in 1 cup of grated broccoli stems, 1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese, 1/8 cup of finely chopped or grated onion, and 1/8 cup of finely chopped fresh parsley. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients mixed earlier until evenly combined.
Fresh onion can be substituted with 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder or 1-1/4 teaspoons of dried onion flakes.
Although fresh is best, fresh parsley can be substituted with two teaspoons of dried parsley.
You can use almost any oil for frying. Safflower oil has a high smoke point and neutral flavor. Peanut oil is a popular choice for frying, thanks to its high smoke point and nutty flavor, and is relatively inexpensive. Canola oil is one of the best choices when frying because of its neutral flavor, and it’s something you’re likely to already have in your cupboard. Vegetable oil is either a blend of oils or a generic term used by manufacturers for their packaging, so the smoke point will vary depending on the brand you get. That said, vegetable oil tends to be neutral in flavor and low in cost.
Heat 3 inches of oil over medium heat in a high-sided frying pan or saucepan until the oil reaches 325°F on your deep-frying thermometer. The batter should sizzle gently in contact with the hot oil. If it pops or burns quickly, the oil is too hot.
Spoon rounded tablespoons of batter into the oil. Don’t crowd, or they will stick. Fry until golden brown (2-3 minutes). Remove with a slotted spoon and let drain on a paper-towel-lined plate.
Storing Leftover Hush Puppies
You’re not likely to have any, but if you do, store leftover hush puppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months.
To reheat, place the hush puppies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes or until warm.
Broccoli Stem & Cheddar Cheese Hush Puppies
This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase using the links in this recipe, I may earn a commission.
Ingredients
- 3 Eggs
- 1-1/2 c. Cornmeal
- 1 c. Broccoli Stems – Grated approx. 6″ stem from 3 medium heads of broccoli
- ½ c. Cheddar Cheese – Grated
- ¼ c. Buttermilk
- ⅛ c. Onion – Chopped Fine or Grated
- ⅛ c. Parsley – Finely Chopped
- ¾ tsp. Baking Powder
- ¾ tsp. Salt
- ¼ tsp. Sugar
- ⅛ tsp. Baking Soda
- ⅛ tsp. Cayenne Pepper
- ⅛ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, baking powder, salt, sugar, baking soda, cayenne pepper and black pepper until combined.1-1/2 c. Cornmeal, 3/4 tsp. Baking Powder, 3/4 tsp. Salt, 1/4 tsp. Sugar, 1/8 tsp. Baking Soda, 1/8 tsp. Cayenne Pepper, 1/8 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- In a separate, medium bowl, whisk together eggs and buttermilk until evenly combined. Stir in broccoli stems, cheddar cheese, onion and parsley.3 Eggs, 1 c. Broccoli Stems – Grated, 1/2 c. Cheddar Cheese – Grated, 1/4 c. Buttermilk, 1/8 c. Onion – Chopped Fine or Grated, 1/8 c. Parsley – Finely Chopped
- Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until evenly mixed.
- Heat 3" of vegetable oil over medium heat in a high-sided frying pan or saucepan until the oil reaches 325°F. Batter should sizzle gently on contact. If it pops or burns quickly, the oil is too hot.Oil
- Spoon rounded tablespoons of batter into the oil. Don't crowd or they will stick.
- Fry until golden brown (2-3 minutes).
- Remove with a slotted spoon and let drain on a paper-towel lined plate.
Notes
Nutrition
Need more broccoli stem recipes? Check these out:
It can be hard to tell when to harvest your broccoli. Here’s a guide to broccoli harvest.
Spicy Stir-Fried Broccoli Stems
This recipe for Spicy Stir-Fried Broccoli Stems is for everyone who likes to nibble on the stems while cutting up the broccoli!
Broccoli Stem Pesto
Broccoli Stem Pesto is a simple food waste recovery recipe using broccoli stalks and leaves in pesto sauce. Easy, tasty, and so versatile!
Broccoli Soup with Stalks
This broccoli soup is a tasty and easy meal for a weeknight dinner. Make a big batch and save it for leftovers throughout the week!
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli Stalks
These Parmesan Roasted Broccoli Stalks disappear in a flash! They’re a terrific little snack and the perfect dinner side dish recipe. With just a couple of ingredients, they’re quick and easy, and they deliciously utilize a part of the vegetable that’s often otherwise discarded.
Broccoli Stem Slaw
Broccoli Stem Slaw is crisp, colorful, and delicious. Made from simple, everyday ingredients, every bite of this salad is full of texture and bright flavors, all of which complement each other.
Making Homemade Ranch Dressing
Sometimes I like to top my hush puppies with sour cream, but other times it’s ranch dressing for me. I used to buy the pricey organic ranch dressing, but then I discovered how easy it is. This recipe makes one serving, just enough for dipping a batch of hush puppies.
Ingredients & Instructions
Whisk together four tablespoons of buttermilk, two tablespoons of mayonnaise, and 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like chopped parsley or chives to taste.
Creamy Ranch Dressing from Scratch
This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase using the links in this recipe, I may earn a commission.
Ingredients
- ½ c. Buttermilk
- ¼ c. Mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar optional
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- Finely chopped chives and/or parsley to taste.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Instructions
- Whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise, and vinegar.1/2 c. Buttermilk, 1/4 c. Mayonnaise, 1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
- Season with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs to taste.1 tsp. Garlic Powder, Salt and pepper to taste., Finely chopped chives and/or parsley to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Besides this hush puppies recipe, do you know what tastes amazing with a dollop of ranch dressing? Homemade potato pancakes!
If you’re hankering for more broccoli ideas, check out Broccoli Rice Casserole: A Cheesy Family Favorite.
