Learn how to make hush puppies from the comfort of your own home using your air fryer. This is a healthier, vegan friendly spin where no deep fat frying is required without compromising the taste.

Do you like hush puppies, but don't care for it's unhealthy cooking method? If so, no worries because I have found a much healthier way of making them without sacifricing the taste.

The air fryer does the job in a much more healthier way, reducing the amount of oil that is used thus making it a guilt free treat to indulge in.

That sounds like a win win situation and a good enough excuse to dust off that air fryer and get ready to use it.

What are hush puppies?

A hush puppy is a bite sized savoury ball that is deep fat fried until crispy and is a very popular southern cuisine.

A thickish batter made from cornmeal (maize), flour, onion, salt, milk/buttermilk, and other ingredients such as cayenne pepper and/or sugar for a hint of heat and subtle sweetness is formed.

The batter is then dropped, a spoonful at a time into pipping hot oil and fried until crispy and tender.

In some ways this recipe reminds of

Reasons to make this recipe

Suitable to both those who are gluten free and vegan omits wheat flour, eggs and cows milk.

Healthier alternative to deep fat frying using the air fryer instead.

Doesn't require a copious amount of oil.

Perfect to serve during the holiday season, at barbecues or a cookout.

Everyone loves old fashion southern comfort food.

Ingredients you will need

Ingredients you need for air fryer hush puppies

Cornmeal - You will want to use yellow, not white cornmeal in its fine texture.

Gluten free flour - I'm using my homemade all purpose gluten free but any GF flour should work just fine.

Onion - Fresh yellow onion, grated is needed.

Raw cane sugar - Only a small amount is needed for a sutble hint of sweetness.

Flaxegg - Egg replacement which is used as a binder.

Garlic granules/pink salt/chives - To enhance the flavour/taste.

Cayenne pepper - For a hint of heat

Almond milk/apple cider vinegar - Mixed together to make vegan buttermilk

Baking powder - For light and airy texture.

The steps

In a medium sized bowl or a jug, combine the almond milk with the apple cider vinegar to make buttermilk, whisk and set aside.

In another medium sized bowl, add the cornmeal, gluten free flour, raw cane sugar, baking powder, cayenne pepper, chives, garlic powder and pink salt.

Whisk to combine the dry ingredients and set aside.

Add the flax egg, vegan butter and grated onion to the buttermilk and stir.

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until fully combined into a soft pliable doughball(if you have any dry spots, you may need to add more almond milk, a tablespoon at a time).

Lightly spray or coat the air fryer basket with olive oil and set aside.

Coat your hands with olive oil and at the same time pinch off a small piece of the dough and roll in the palm of your hands to create a small bowl.

Place the ball in the air fryer basket.

Repeat the above two steps with the rest of the dough.

Air fry at 180C/356F for roughly 5 minutes or until the first side is golden.

Turn them over, spray the tops spray/coat the tops with oil and cook for 5 minutes until golden.

Notes and tips

Keep in mind these hush puppies are gluten free/vegan and air fried so in appearance and taste they won't look/taste like their deep fried counterpart.

The cooking time is a general guideline only, it should take around that timeframe.

This is the recipe you will need to make aFlax Egg.

It is very important that the dough is roll-able, it shouldn't be runny nor too firm.

Feel free to add peppers, chopped spring onion or even corn kernels if you want to.

I used my homemade Gluten Free Flour recipe, but any GF flour should work.

Make sure your hands are oiled each time you roll the dough to prevent dry spots.

You should make a total of 14 hush puppies.

If you need to add more flour or almond milk, do so using a tablespoon at a time.

Breaking the hush puppy in half with hands

More recipes cornmeal based recipes to try

Cornmeal Cou Cou

Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding

Haitian Akasan

Cornmeal Porridge

Cornmeal Porridge With Hominy Corn

Cornmeal Dumpling

**Please comment below and star rate if you have tried my recipes. Support my website by leaving a donation through Buying Me a Coffee. A site to show your appreciation of my hardwork over the years. Let's be friends and engage on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram I also like to pin on Pinterest, where you can find more amazing recipes.**