Food - Drink
Croquettes Vs. Hushpuppies: What's The Difference?
By ERIN SHAW
There are many fried appetizers that seem similar, but aren’t; hushpuppies and Spanish croquettes have a similar texture and cooking techniques, but their origins, ingredients, and flavor profiles differ. Croquettes have roots in European cooking, while hushpuppies are said to have originated in the American South.
Hushpuppies have varying origin stories; some believe the name came from soldiers during the Civil War who used them to keep dogs quiet, while others say they started out as a dish of battered and fried salamanders. The true original recipe for hushpuppies may have come from a formerly enslaved man, Romeo Govan, who fried bits of left-over fish-fry batter.
Croquettes also have a disputed history and there are multiple stories tracing back to France, all of which claim a different chef created them. Croquettes are made by mixing a bechamel sauce with meat scraps, allowing it to cool and congeal before making little balls, battering, and frying them; they are a staple in Spanish kitchens and are often made with ham.
While both hushpuppies and Spanish croquettes are made from deep fried batter, hushpuppies generally don't contain meat and are made with a cornmeal-based batter; croquettes, on the other hand, are made from a bechamel batter, so they’re not gluten-free. However, hushpuppies are quicker to make as there are fewer steps involved when making them.