How to Make Southern Side Dishes: Hush Puppies, Chow Chow and Corn Bread

Corn bread is a popular Southern side dish.

The South has a variety of tasty side dishes that can accommodate most meals. Hush puppies, chow chow and corn bread are particularly popular at a fish fry.

Things You'll Need

• Hush puppies:
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4 cup milk
• Chow chow:
• 1 gallon chopped cabbage
• 12 green peppers
• 12 red peppers
• 12 onions, chopped
• 2 quarts green tomatoes, chopped
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons ground mustard
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 4 tablespoons mustard seed
• 2 tablespoons pickling spice
• 1 quart vinegar
• Corn bread:
• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 1/2 cup cooking oil
• 2 eggs
• 8 ounces cream-style yellow corn
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

Hush Puppies

1. Sift or blend all dry ingredients in one bowl, and in another combine and mix the onion, egg and milk. Combine the bowls and stir lightly for the batter.

2. Drop a teaspoon of the batter into a deep fryer or skillet with hot oil at 360 degrees. If you don't have a food thermometer, test it by dropping in a tiny amount of batter. If it begins to fry immediately, it's good to go.

3. Fry a few hush puppies at a time so that you don't overcook them. Drain on paper towels.

Chow Chow

1. Mix all of the vegetables with the salt. Leave overnight and drain the next day.

2. Put all of the spices into a spice bag, then add the sugar and spices to the vinegar. Simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Add the vegetables and simmer until hot. Remove the spice bag and pack the hot chow chow into jars and seal.

Corn Bread

1. Mix all of the ingredients together.

2. Pour the corn bread batter into a greased casserole dish.

3. Bake for 45 minutes at 425.

References

• Soul Food and Southern Cooking: Our All Time Favorite Side Dishes