Catfish In Sauerkraut Food

CATFISH IN SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the sauerkraut to remove some of the bitterness.
• Heat a large skillet and fry bacon bits until translucent, add in the onion, 2 tbsp lard, green pepper, tomato, and 1 tbsp paprika. Stir this mixture well and add the sauerkraut and black pepper. Simmer for one hour.
• In a separate pan, prepare a light roux with 1 tablespoon lard, flour and dill.
• After the hour of braising, add the roux to the sauerkraut mixture.
• Place sliced fish on top of the sauerkraut. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Remove fillets from pan. Stir in the sour cream and heat.
• To serve, place a portion of the creamed sauerkraut mixture on the plate topped with a fish fillet. Garnish with a bit of sour cream, a drizzle of lard and a dash of paprika.

ROAST CATFISH OR OTHER FILLETS WITH SAUERKRAUT AND BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500°F. Put the bacon in a skillet and over medium heat cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon renders its fat and becomes crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Toss the sauerkraut with half the paprika and half the bacon, with some of its fat, then spread this along the bottom of a roasting pan or casserole.
• Brush the fish with a little bacon fat, then season it on all sides with salt, pepper, and the remaining paprika. Place on top of the sauerkraut and roast, uncovered, for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and cook until the fish is white throughout, about 5 minutes more. Serve immediately.

SAUTEED FISH WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• To prepare the Polenta: In a large saucepan, bring the water and salt to a boil. Slowly add the cornmeal, stirring continuously. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook at a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the polenta is cooked to a thick, creamy consistency, 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in butter.
• As soon as the polenta begins cooking, prepare the Seasoned Sauerkraut: Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the bacon and continue to saute another 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, let mixture and pan cool for a few minutes, and then sprinkle and stir in the sweet paprika. Deglaze the pan with 1 cup chicken stock, stirring and scraping to dissolve the pan deposits, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Stir in the sauerkraut, bay leaves, juniper berries, and hot paprika until well blended. Add the remaining 1 cup chicken stock and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, stir in the sour cream and taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
• While the polenta and sauerkraut are cooking, prepare the fish: Put the oil and butter in 2 medium saute pans over high heat. Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Divide the fish fillets among the 2 skillets and saute them about 3 minutes on one side; turn them over, add the diced red bell peppers and the paprika and continue to cook 3 to 4 minutes more, until lightly browned.
• To serve, on each heated serving plate spoon two 1/4-cup pools of polenta side by side. Mound about 1/2 cup of the sauerkraut in the center of the plate between the pools of polenta. Place a fish fillet on top of the sauerkraut and spoon the diced bell peppers on top of the fish. Serve immediately.