It's game time. Forget your standard issue party foods and make a batch of these cheesy, crispy, and a little spicy, hush puppies.  Paired with a creamy ranch avocado dip, they are perfect  addition to your Super Bowl festivities.  Having a large gathering? This recipe easily doubles (or triples) to accommodate any size party.

Ingredients

Hush Puppies

  • 1 Cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon tablespoons sugar
  • 3/4 Teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 Cup buttermilk, well shaken
  • 2 Tablespoon beaten egg
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon chopped seeded jalapeño chile
  • 5 Ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • Canola oil or vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 lime

Creamy Ranch Avocado Dip

  • 1/2 Cup mayonaise
  • 1/2 Cup sour cream
  • 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 Tablespoon buttermilk
  • 1/2 Small red onion
  • 1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 Avocado (peeled, seeded and diced)

Preparation

Step 1:

Whisk first 7 ingredients in a bowl just to to blend. Whisk buttermilk, egg, and jalapeno in small bowl to blend. Stir buttermilk mixture and cheddar cheese into dry ingredients.

Step 2:

Add about 1 1/2 inches of oil to a pan or dutch oven. Attach deep-fry thermometer to pan; heat oil to 320°F over medium heat. Working in batches of 4 or 5, drop batter by tablespoonfuls into oil.

Step 3:

Cook until golden, turning occasionally, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer hush puppies to paper towels and squeeze just a bit of fresh lime juice over the top while they are still warm.

Step 4:

For the Avocado Ranch dip, place all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. Process until mixture is smooth and well blended. Serve alongside Hush Puppies.