Bistro Catfish Food

CATFISH DINNER

Steps:

• For the catfish: To marinate the catfish, place the fillets and buttermilk in a flat bottomed container. Allow to marinate in the fridge for a minimum 30 minutes, maximum 1 day.
• Preheat a fryer to 350 degrees F with vegetable oil. Before frying, remove the catfish from the marinade and allow any excess buttermilk to drip off. Season the cornmeal with salt and pepper. Coat a fillet with flour, then egg wash, then seasoned cornmeal and repeat the process with the remaining fillets before frying. Fry until the catfish reaches 145 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the fryer and allow to drain any excess oil on a plate with paper towels.
• For the sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and melt. Next, add the onions, peppers and celery and sweat until translucent. Then stir in the flour, seafood seasoning and garlic to thicken the butter. This will take 1 to 2 minutes.
• Next, add the cream and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the cream sets. Finally, add the crawfish and whisk to blend, cooking for final 2 minutes.
• To serve, place 1/2 cup grits or polenta on the plate, then a quarter of the prepared crawfish sauce and top with a crisp cooked fish. Finish with green onions or chives.

CATFISH PARMESAN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley and seasonings. Dip catfish in butter, then in crumb mixture. Arrange in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Bake, uncovered, at 375° until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 20-25 minutes. If desired, serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

BISTRO CATFISH

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons reserved oil in a large skillet, over medium heat.
• Saute garlic for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden.
• Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and pepper.
• Place fish in the skillet; cover, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
• Add the spinach and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet.
• Cover and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until spinach is wilted but still bright green.
• Place the spinach on a serving plate; top with fish fillets.
• Drizzle pan drippings on top and serve.

RESTAURANT-STYLE FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Place the catfish fillets in a single layer in a shallow dish (you may slice the fillets in half lengthwise if desired or leave whole).
• Cover the fillets completely with milk.
• Cover and chill for about 1-1/2 hours.
• In a shallow bowl combine the cornmeal with seasoned salt, black pepper, cayenne, onion powder and garlic powder.
• Remove the catfish from refrigerator and allow to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• Remove all the milk from the pan and allowing all the milk to drip off the fillets.
• Sprinkle the fillets very lightly with salt (using about 1 teaspoon for all of the fillets).
• Coat lightly with cornmeal mixture.
• Pour the oil to a depth of about 1-1/2 inches in a cast-iron or heavy skillet.
• Heat oil to 350°F.
• Fry the fish in batches about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden.
• Drain on wire racks over paper towels.
• Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.