Quick Answer
On average, a single fried hush puppy contains around 150 calories. However, the exact calorie count can vary depending on the size of the hush puppy and the specific ingredients used. A small hush puppy may have 100 calories, while a larger one may have up to 200 calories or more.
Calories in Common Hush Puppy Ingredients
Hush puppies are batter-fried balls made from cornmeal, wheat flour, eggs, onions, and seasonings. Here are the approximate calories for 1 ounce of common hush puppy ingredients:
| Ingredient | Calories (per oz) |
|---|---|
| Cornmeal | 111 |
| All-purpose flour | 104 |
| Egg | 17 |
| Onion | 16 |
| Milk | 11 |
As you can see, the main calorie contributors are the cornmeal and flour. Onions, eggs, milk, and seasonings add smaller amounts of calories.
Calories Based on Hush Puppy Size
The size of the hush puppy greatly impacts its calorie count. Here are some estimates based on typical sizes:
| Hush Puppy Size | Estimated Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (1 oz) | 100 |
| Medium (2 oz) | 150 |
| Large (3 oz) | 200 |
| Extra Large (4 oz) | 270 |
As shown, calories scale up significantly as the hush puppy size increases. A small 1 oz hush puppy only has around 100 calories, while a large 3 oz one has 200 calories.
Calories for Fried vs Baked
Frying adds a significant amount of calories compared to baking. Here is a comparison:
| Cooking Method | Calories (2 oz portion) |
|---|---|
| Fried | 150 |
| Baked | 120 |
Frying adds about 30 extra calories per hush puppy compared to baking. The extra calories come from absorbing oil while being fried.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Hush Puppies
Here are some tips for lightening up hush puppies:
– Use whole wheat or multigrain flour instead of all-purpose flour
– Substitute Greek yogurt or egg whites for whole eggs
– Use canola or olive oil instead of lard or shortening for frying
– Bake or air-fry instead of frying
– Mix in vegetables like shredded carrots or zucchini
– Use smaller hush puppies sizes
Nutrition Facts for Fried Hush Puppies
Here are the full nutrition facts for a typical fried 2 oz hush puppy:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 150 |
| Fat | 7g |
| Carbs | 20g |
| Protein | 3g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sodium | 280mg |
As you can see, a fried hush puppy is high in calories, fat, and sodium. The majority of calories come from the flour and cornmeal.
Conclusion
A single fried hush puppy contains approximately 150 calories on average. However, the specific amount can range from 100-200+ calories depending on the size. Frying adds extra calories compared to baking. When making hush puppies, you can reduce the calories by using lighter ingredients, baking instead of frying, and making them smaller.