Catfish Okra With Pecan Butter Sauce Food

SESAME CRUSTED CATFISH WITH GEECHEE PEANUT SAUCE AND SAUTEED OKRA

Steps:

• Grind 1/2 cup sesame seeds in spice grinder into a rough powder. Leave the other 1/2 cup whole. Combine the sesame powder, sesame seeds, cornmeal, and salt and pepper and place in a shallow bowl.
• Dredge catfish fillets in sesame-cornmeal mix and saute in hot peanut oil until golden brown. Remove catfish, keep warm. Empty skillet of oil and crusty cornmeal. Add new oil to hot pan and saute the fresh sliced okra until it becomes slightly brown, about 8 minutes.
• Place the geechee sauce on the plate and put catfish fillets on top of that. Add another ladle of geechee sauce and put Sauteed okra on top.
• Sweat the peppers, celery, and onion in bacon fat until the onions are translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Add red wine and reduce by 1/3. Add tomato and stock. Whisk in roux and peanut butter. Check seasoning. Let simmer for 30 minutes.
• Melt the butter in a saute pan. When the butter is melted, add the flour and stir to combine. Cook slowly over low heat, stirring constantly, until the roux gets dark brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Don't rush it or the roux could burn and become bitter tasting.

CATFISH AND OKRA WITH PECAN BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 500°F.
• Toss okra and tomatoes with oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Spread in a large shallow baking pan and roast in lower third of oven until tomato skins begin to burst, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pat fillets dry and arrange in another large shallow baking pan. Sprinkle both sides with 1 1/2 teaspoons (total) Old Bay seasoning.
• When tomato skins begin to burst, add corn to vegetables in lower third of oven and put fish in upper third of oven. Roast fish and vegetables until fish is just cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• While fish roasts, melt butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, then add pecans and remaining 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until nuts are golden and butter is deep golden, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Serve fish over vegetables and top with sauce.

BLACKENED CATFISH WITH FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• For the catfish: Line a sheet pan with a rack and set aside. Stir together 1 tablespoon of the paprika and the salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over the catfish filets and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the remaining 3 tablespoons paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, oregano, and thyme in a small bowl. Set 4 teaspoons of the spice mix aside; the rest will keep, in an airtight container, for up to 1 year.
• When the catfish is ready, season each filet on one side with 2 teaspoons of the spice mix. Lightly oil a large cast-iron skillet and heat over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Place the filets in the skillet seasoned-side down and cook until lightly blackened, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the filets, add the butter and cook 1 to 2 minutes more, occasionally basting with the melted butter. Transfer the filets to the prepared sheet pan and set aside.
• For the fried okra: Whisk the eggs in a large shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. Add the okra and toss to combine. Place the cornmeal and cayenne in another large shallow dish, season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Transfer the okra to the dish of seasoned cornmeal, letting any excess egg drip off, and toss until completely coated. Transfer the okra into a fine-mesh colander or hand strainer and gently shake to remove any excess cornmeal.
• Add 1 to 2 inches of oil to a large nonstick skillet and heat to 350 degrees F. Working in batches, fry the okra, gently turning with tongs, until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to the sheet pan with the catfish. Repeat with the remaining okra.
• Plate the blackened catfish and fried okra next to each other and garnish with the lemon wedges.

PALACE CAFE CATFISH PECAN WITH MEUNIERE SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the catfish: Preheat the oven to 450F and coat a frying pan lightly with olive oil.
• Trim all fat from fillets.
• Grind the roasted pecans and breadcrumbs in the container of a food processor or blender until fine.
• Pour into a pie pan.
• Add salt and pepper to flour; place into another pie pan.
• Beat the eggs and milk together.
• Season the fish with seafood seasoning, dredge in flour, dip in egg mixture and coat with pecan/bread crumb mixture.
• Place into prepared pan and cook over medium heat until golden; place in oven for five minutes to finish.
• To make the sauce: Cook fish stock, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and pepper sauce in a medium saucepan; add cream and cook to reduce for about two minutes.
• Remove from heat and whisk in butter.
• Serve over the cooked fish and garnish with roasted whole pecans.

CATFISH WITH PECAN BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet. Season the catfish fillets with salt and pepper and the cayenne. Coat the catfish fillets lightly with flour, then add them to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked though, about 10 minutes. Transfer the catfish fillets to a platter; tent with foil and keep warm.
• Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in the skillet. Add the pecans and cook over moderately high heat, until the pecans and butter are browned and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon zest and juice and season with salt. Spoon the pecan butter over the catfish fillets and serve immediately with lemon wedges.