Corn pancakes with the unusual name hush puppies (silence, puppies!), Are a traditional dish of soul food, the cuisine of the African American community typical of the southern United States
The hush puppies are a famous traditional dish of the so-called "kitchen of the soul" (soul food), or the cuisine of the Afro-American community of southern United States. The recipe consists of soft round-shaped corn fritters prepared with corn flour and a few other ingredients and generally served as an accompaniment to fish dishes (above all fried catfish) or seafood or the classic fried chicken. Like other dishes of the soul culinary tradition, these corn fritters have distant origins, and are a poor and simple dish to prepare and at the same time rich in taste and history.
Recipe and characteristics of hush puppies
The main ingredient of these pancakes is corn flour, an ingredient historically used in many traditional dishes of the so-called poor kitchen, just think of our local polenta or Mexican tortillas. It is no coincidence that this poor and versatile ingredient is used in many popular soul food recipes. As the Corn bread which is widespread in the southern United States and which is generally prepared with a batter containing corn flour, wheat flour, eggs, milk and animal fat. The ingredients used for the traditional basic recipe of hush puppies instead are corn flour, wheat flour, milk or buttermilk, eggs, salt, a pinch of baking soda and onion, but spices or other seasonings can also be added, including garlic, chopped fresh onion, peppers, black pepper, chili or corn kernels. To prepare the pancakes, simply mix the liquid ingredients (eggs and milk) and add them to the previously mixed dry ones; once the creamy batter is ready, simply shape it with a spoon to make small balls the size of a golf ball and then proceed with frying in hot oil or preheated fat. The result must be golden, fragrant and pleasantly crunchy.
The story of small "dog silences" pancakes
The unusual name of this dish, which can be translated as "silence, puppies!" it is closely linked to the story that is told about its origin. In fact, it would seem that the birth of corn fritters dates back to period of the Civil War. It is said that at the time the Confederate soldiers ate large quantities of it, as it was easy and quick to prepare during the camps, and that they threw it at the dogs to keep them at bay and stop them barking, particularly during attacks by the side. of enemy troops. There are also similar versions of the story whose protagonists, instead of soldiers, are hunters, fishermen or slaves on the run. Whatever the origin of the name and the dish, what we know is that nowadays there are several local and regional variants (including those that involve baking or different shapes and ingredients) and that there are several countries in the south of the United States that claim its origin.
Photo: Hush_puppies_frittelle_Commons Wikipedia.jpg
Photo: Hush_puppies_cornmeal pancakes_Flickr_Dan.jpg
This recipe has already been read 1156 times!