Hushpuppies (deep-fried round balls made from cornmeal-based batter) have been compared to falafel balls (deep-fried balls or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both).
   
“My attempt to describe falafel to my co-workers: ‘Um, it’s kind of like Middle Eastern hush puppies?’” was posted on Twitter by Emily Poe-Crawford on July 1, 2009. “Falafel - hush puppies of the middle east” was posted on Twitter by raj on October 29, 2009. “A thought that never occurred to me until just now…falafel are Middle Eastern hush puppies” was posted on Twitter by Alice Wilson on July 8, 2014. “Falafel is pretty much Middle Eastern hush puppies” was posted on Twitter by Percy on April 17, 2015.
   
“FALAFEL aka Mediterranean hush puppies made of ground chickpeas, herbs, and spices” was posted on Twitter by Aladdin Grill on June 27, 2014. “Falafel is just Mediterranean hush puppies” was posted on Twitter by Farmer Carol BLM on August 7, 2015. “Falafel: Mediterranean hush puppies (or are hush puppies Southern falefel?)” was posted on Twitter by Keith J Grant on January 13, 2016. “falafel is just mediterranean hush puppies” was posted on Twitter by keanu reefer on October 24, 2020.
 
“Hush puppies are like the falafel of Southern food” was posted on Twitter by Del Harvey on February 22, 2010. “Hush Puppies == Southern Falafel” was posted on Twitter by A$AP JP on June 22, 2013. “Just described hush puppies as ‘southern falafel’” was posted on Twitter by Andrew Motel on July 4, 2013. “‘Hush puppies are basically Southern falafel’ —OH at friends dinner tonight” was posted on Twitter by “Keegan Osinski, between a sex shop & a crematorium” on February 3, 2018.
 
“Hush puppies shall henceforth be known as redneck falafel” was posted on Twitter by SonoranCellist on October 29, 2011. “Hushpuppies are basically just redneck falafel” was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on June 8, 2018. “Hush puppies are redneck falafel” was posted on Twitter by Robert Cooper on April 23, 2020.
 
“Wait… hush puppies are just American falafel. #Revelation” was posted on Twitter be Dan Delecto on October 29, 2013. “Hush puppies are just American falafel” was posted on Twitter by lildazeez on March 10, 2019. “Hush Puppies are just american Falafel” was posted on Twitter by Hudson on August 18, 2020.
   
         
Wikipedia: Hushpuppy
A hush puppy (or hushpuppy) is a small, savoury, deep-fried round ball made from cornmeal-based batter. Hushpuppies are frequently served as a side dish with seafood and other deep-fried foods.
 
Wikipedia: Falafel
Falafel (/fəˈlɑːfəl/; Arabic: فلافل‎, [fæˈlæːfɪl]) is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both. Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern food, commonly served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as taboon; “falafel” also frequently refers to a wrapped sandwich that is prepared in this way. The falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a meze tray (assortment of appetizers).
   
Twitter
Emily Poe-Crawford
@embritches
My attempt to describe falafel to my co-workers: “Um, it’s kind of like Middle Eastern hush puppies?”
4:42 PM · Jul 1, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
raj
@rajkarnik
Falafel - hush puppies of the middle east
10:41 PM · Oct 29, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Del Harvey
@delbius
“Hush puppies are like the falafel of Southern food.” -
@audomatic
11:03 PM · Feb 22, 2010·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Squall Live
@squalllive
To celebrate the Egyptians victory, I made some falafel today for the first time.  It’s like Middle Eastern hush puppies.
9:15 AM · Feb 14, 2011·Twitter Web Client
     
Twitter
Aaron Ragsdale
@AaronRagsdale
Idea: new name for hushpuppies—“American Falafel”  I can make sandwiches out of them, right? #totallyjustdiditanyway #theywerehomemade
2:04 PM · Jul 4, 2011·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Adriana Gasteazoro
@adrigasteazoro
Falafel: Middle Easter hush puppies 😊 http://yfrog.com/h8q9jegnj
7:43 PM · Sep 10, 2011·Twitter for BlackBerry®
   
Twitter
SonoranCellist
@SonoranCellist
Hush puppies shall henceforth be known as redneck falafel.
11:22 PM · Oct 29, 2011·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Liz Ratto
@lizratto
@supereric’s revelation of the day: hush puppies are white trash falafel.
2:48 PM · Jan 13, 2012·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Jason Schneider
@JasonJots
Falafel = Middle Eastern hush puppies
8:10 PM · Mar 21, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Angelle Haney Gullett
@CityofAngelle
So, hush puppies are basically hillbilly falafel, right?
5:01 PM · Apr 28, 2012·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Niko
@NikRichard
Falafel is like Middle Eastern hush puppies.
4:53 PM · Dec 17, 2012·Echofon
   
Twitter
A$AP JP
@JPNYC81
Hush Puppies == Southern Falafel
6:10 PM · Jun 22, 2013·Tweetbot for iOS
   
Twitter
Andrew Motel
@wholesalefishes
Just described hush puppies as “southern falafel”.
9:20 PM · Jul 4, 2013·Tweetbot for iOS
   
Twitter
Dan Delecto
@MeBeDB
Wait… hush puppies are just American falafel. #Revelation
11:27 PM · Oct 29, 2013·Twitter Web Client
       
Twitter
Aladdin Grill
@AladdinGrill
FALAFEL aka Mediterranean hush puppies made of ground chickpeas, herbs, and spices.  Each falafel is hand-formed and fried crispy to order.
11:30 AM · Jun 27, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Alice Wilson
@bobosnakes
A thought that never occurred to me until just now…falafel are Middle Eastern hush puppies.
1:28 PM · Jul 8, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Michael Snapp
@SnappTheGrey
Had I known falafel was just middle eastern hush puppies I wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble to get some. Thanks Iron Man….
5:56 PM · Jan 24, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Percy
@PacNWReb38
Falafel is pretty much Middle Eastern hush puppies.
10:24 PM · Apr 17, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Michael
@minealone6
Always had heard of falafel, but never seen them before, but after Googlin’ it, I’m pretty sure they’re Middle eastern hush puppies.
12:43 PM · Jul 6, 2015·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Farmer Carol BLM
@caaarrolll
Falafel is just Mediterranean hush puppies
4:20 PM · Aug 7, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
 
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/ghostmikey September 3, 2015
Hush puppies are falafel for people from the south.
     
Twitter
Keith J Grant
@keithjgrant
Falafel: Mediterranean hush puppies
(or are hush puppies Southern falefel?)
12:29 PM · Jan 13, 2016·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Queen B
@forEachLoop
Falafel- Mediterranean hush puppies
9:33 PM · May 21, 2016·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Logan Barrett
@lpbarrett97
Hush puppies just southern falafel
11:20 PM · Sep 2, 2017·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Keegan Osinski, between a sex shop & a crematorium
@keegzzz
“Hush puppies are basically Southern falafel” —OH at friends dinner tonight
9:05 PM · Feb 3, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Carbra Streisand Bread
@halftaylorr
I’m 80% sure that hush puppies are just the South’s version of Falafel. Don’t @ me.
7:18 PM · May 12, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Almaqah
@_Almaqah
Saw a menu today that called hush puppies redneck falafel
9:07 PM · May 27, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
 
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/tementnoise June 8, 2018
Hushpuppies are basically just redneck falafel.
   
Twitter
Tusken Hater
@Wjmill78
Also, hush puppies are basically southern falafel.
11:37 AM · Jul 20, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
 
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/scoconut62 July 26, 2018
Hush puppies are just cornmeal falafel
       
Twitter
J.P. Freire
@JPFreire
Falafel = Middle Eastern hush puppies.
12:50 PM · Jul 30, 2018·TweetDeck
   
Twitter
Xaviccino
@xaviccino
Falafel is just Middle Eastern Hush Puppies, don’t fight me on this one
GIF
3:18 AM · Oct 21, 2018·Twitter Web App
   
Twitter
Will Greenwald no Densetsu
@AggroWill
Realization: Hush puppies are the falafel of the South.
12:00 PM · Nov 13, 2018·TweetDeck
   
Twitter
Sloan
@SloanBurch
hush puppies are just southern falafel change my mind
9:46 PM · Mar 9, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
lildazeez
@razmcghoul
Hush puppies are just American falafel
12:03 AM · Mar 10, 2019·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
St8
@TA_was_in
Hush puppies = redneck falafel
7:01 PM · Aug 30, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Den Shewman
@denshewman
Replying to @luskay
Hush puppies are the Southern version of falafel!
9:06 PM · Dec 23, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
wordvomit
@ania_matty
falafel is basically just mediterranean hush puppies #dontsilenceme
10:44 PM · Jan 18, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Keefe
@keeferooni
Hush puppies are just southern falafel.
10:55 PM · Mar 18, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Robert Cooper
@kebernet
Replying to @ibogost
Hush puppies are redneck falafel.
12:13 AM · Apr 23, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Queen Thot Supreme
@leilacherryxxx
falafel are middle eastern hush puppies
7:46 PM · Jun 27, 2020·Twitter Web App
 
Twitter
Hudson
@bruuuuuuhhhhhhh
Hush Puppies are just american Falafel
12:08 AM · Aug 18, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Mr. Big Body
@In_JoshWeTrust
Replying to @NHendizadeh
Hush puppies are southern falafel #OpinionCASSEROLE
10:52 PM · Oct 15, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Mel Eatherington
@VanMelsing
Unpopular hot take: hush puppies are redneck falafel.
(Both good!) Side note: it’s Greek night at my house. Drooling face
6:05 PM · Oct 18, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
keanu reefer
@lxlkI
falafel is just mediterranean hush puppies
11:42 PM · Oct 24, 2020·Twitter for iPhone