Fast foods, hush puppies
Whole food · Fast Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
Hush puppies are golden, deep-fried cornmeal fritters with a crispy, crackly exterior and a soft, slightly sweet, savory interior. They are a staple side dish in the American South, often served alongside fried seafood or barbecue. Nutritionally, they are a dense source of carbohydrates and fats, providing quick energy but with a moderate calorie load per serving.
Calorie split: 8% protein · 53% carbs · 39% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love hush puppies for their irresistible combination of a crunchy shell and tender, flavorful crumb, often seasoned with onion, garlic, or jalapeño. They are deeply tied to Southern U.S. culinary tradition, evoking a sense of comfort, family gatherings, and coastal seafood feasts.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Due to being deep-fried, they are high in calories, fats, and often sodium, which can contribute to blood-sugar spikes and may not suit low-fat or heart-healthy diets. To counteract this, pair them with a protein-rich main (like grilled fish) and a vinegar-based slaw to balance the meal, and practice portion control by limiting yourself to one or two.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates
- Source of dietary fiber from cornmeal
- Contains essential minerals like iron and phosphorus
- Offers plant-based protein from corn and wheat flour
- A comforting, culturally significant side dish
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The name 'hush puppy' is said to originate from hunters or fishermen who would fry cornmeal batter and toss it to their barking dogs to 'hush the puppies.'
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 36.6 g |
| Energy | 296 kcal |
| Energy | 1238 kj |
| Protein | 6.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 13.3 g |
| Ash | 3.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 40.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.9 g |
| Total Sugars | 3.8 g |
| Sucrose | 3.2 g |
| Glucose | 0.23 g |
| Fructose | 0.17 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.23 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 30.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 100 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 2.5 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 40.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 410 mg |
| Potassium, K | 256 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 813 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.73 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.14 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.41 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 26.2 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.17 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.07 mg |
| Niacin | 2.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.11 mg |
| Folate, total | 143 ug |
| Folic acid | 114 ug |
| Folate, food | 29.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 223 ug |
| Choline, total | 11.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 1.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 14.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.1 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 3.4 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.6 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.8 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.83 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.8 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.07 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.8 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.6 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.12 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Fast foods, english muffin, with egg, cheese, and sausage — USDA does not publish this profile for Fast foods.
| Tryptophan | 0.16 g |
| Threonine | 0.52 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.54 g |
| Leucine | 0.98 g |
| Lysine | 0.75 g |
| Methionine | 0.29 g |
| Cystine | 0.20 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.59 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.41 g |
| Valine | 0.65 g |
| Arginine | 0.65 g |
| Histidine | 0.33 g |
| Alanine | 0.60 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.1 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.5 g |
| Glycine | 0.54 g |
| Proline | 0.90 g |
| Serine | 0.70 g |
FAQ
What are hush puppies made of?
They are typically made from a batter of cornmeal, flour, eggs, milk or buttermilk, and seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and sometimes sugar or jalapeño, which is then deep-fried into small balls.
Are hush puppies gluten-free?
Traditional recipes often contain wheat flour, making them not gluten-free. However, gluten-free versions can be made using only cornmeal and a gluten-free flour blend.
How do you keep hush puppies crispy?
Serve them immediately after frying. If reheating, use an oven or air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes to re-crisp, rather than a microwave which will make them soggy.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 2.96 kcal/g · 8% calories from protein · 2.9 g fiber · 3.8 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 3.18 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.