Classic Fried Catfish Food

CLASSIC FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• COMBINE first 5 ingredients in a large shallow dish.
• Sprinkle fish with 1/4 teaspoon salt; dredge in cornmeal mixture, coating evenly.
• POUR oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a deep cast-iron skillet; heat to 350 degrees;.
• Fry fish, in batches, 5 to 6 minutes or until golden; drain on paper towels.

CLASSIC FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in a large shallow dish.
• Sprinkle fish with 1/4 teaspoon salt; dredge in cornmeal mixture, coating evenly.
• Pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a deep cast-iron skillet; heat to 350 degrees.
• Fry fish, in batches, 5 to 6 minutes or until golden; drain on paper towels.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Heat the peanut oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Adjust the heat to maintain the temperature.
• Whisk the cornmeal and flour together in a shallow dish. Combine the seafood seasoning, kosher salt, paprika, and pepper in a small bowl. Season the catfish fillets evenly on both sides with the spice mixture. Pour the buttermilk into another shallow dish. Dip each fillet into the buttermilk, flip once to coat both sides, hold over the pan and allow the excess to drip off. Coat both sides of the fillets in the cornmeal mixture. Set the coated fillets on a cooling rack and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Gently add the fillets, 2 at a time, to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the fried fillets to a cooling rack set over a newspaper-lined half sheet pan. Repeat method with remaining fillets. Arrange the catfish on a serving platter and serve immediately.

CLASSIC FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Rinse fillets, and pat dry.
• Combine all dry ingredients in a shallow dish.
• Dredge catfish in flour cornmeal mixture, pressing on breading so it adheres to fish, and place on waxed paper.
• Fry catfish in a large skillet in about 1/4" of hot oil (about 350 degrees F) until golden brown on both sides, about 6-8 minutes total.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

PAN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk the milk, mustard and hot pepper sauce together. Season the mixture with salt and cayenne. Lay the fish in the milk mixture, cover, refrigerate and marinate for 1 hour. In a pie pan, combine the flour, cornmeal and 2 teaspoons of Essence. Remove the fish from the refrigerator and drain. Dredge each fillet in the cornmeal mixture, coating each side completely. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, gently lay each fillet in the hot oil. Pan-fry the fillets for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until the fish is golden brown and the meat is flaky. Remove the fillets from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate. Season the fish with the remaining Essence. Serve the catfish with the Andouille Smothered Beans.

CLASSIC FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• COMBINE first 5 ingredients in a large shallow dish. Sprinkle fish with 1/4 teaspoon salt; dredge in cornmeal mixture, coating evenly.
• POUR oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a deep cast-iron skillet; heat to 350 degrees. Fry fish, in batches, 5 to 6 minutes or until golden; drain on paper towels.

FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Thoroughly combine seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
• In a cake pan, combine 1-1/2 Tsp of the mix with 1 cup flour.
• In another pan, combine 2 Tbsp seasoning mix with the remaining 1-1/2 cups flour and the cornmeal and corn flour.
• In a third pan, beat together the milk, eggs, and mustard.
• Reheat the oil used for the hushpuppies to 350 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle the remaining seasoning mix on both sides of the fish fillets, and let set for at least 5 minutes.
• Dredge in flour first, then coat with egg mixture.
• Dredge in cornmeal mixture, pressing the mixture firmly into the fish with your fingers.
• Shake off excess coating.
• Fry the fish in hot oil until browned and crisp.
• Do not crowd while cooking.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Let oil reheat to 350 degrees F before cooking next batch.
• Serve immediately with hushpuppies.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix buttermilk, water, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture into a flat pan large enough to hold the fillets. Spread fish in one layer over bottom of pan, turning to coat each side, and set aside to marinate.
• In a 2 gallon resealable plastic bag, combine the cornmeal, flour, and seafood seasoning. Add fish to mixture, a few fillets at a time, and tumble gently to coat evenly.
• Heat oil in deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
• Deep fry fillets until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Avoid overcrowding so fillets have room to brown properly. Fish should be slightly crisp outside, and moist and flaky inside. Drain on paper towels.