Country Fried Chesapeake Catfish With Jalapeño Mint Aioli Food

AIOLI

Steps:

• Place garlic and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade, or in a blender. Pulse for 2 seconds. Add the egg yolk and lemon juice, and pulse on and off until blended. Turn on and begin adding the olive oil (pure first, then extra-virgin) in a thin stream. If it becomes too thick, thin it out with some room-temperature water and continue adding oil until you've used it all. Finish with pepper and (if necessary) a bit more salt.
• The reason for using 2/3 pure olive oil is to keep the flavor of the oil from becoming overpowering. This is a perfect example of how by using a fully-flavored extra virgin oil you can use much less, thereby saving money and getting better flavor.

FRIED CATFISH TOPPED WITH CRAWFISH AU GRATIN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the onions, peppers and garlic until wilted. Add the flour and stir until a blond roux is achieved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sugar, chicken base, crab base, granulated garlic, basil, black pepper, cayenne pepper and thyme. Add the milk and wine and cook over medium heat until the milk thickens, stirring constantly, about 6 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until the cheese melts and fully incorporates into the sauce. Add the crawfish tails and cook until heated through, about 4 minutes. Add the green onions just before serving.
• For the catfish: Sprinkle the catfish with Creole seasoning. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and add the milk. Coat the catfish in flour and dip in the milk/egg mixture, then coat with cornmeal. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a large skillet. Fry the catfish until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Serve the catfish with the crawfish au gratin sauce.

COUNTRY FRIED CHESAPEAKE CATFISH WITH JALAPEñO-MINT AIOLI

Steps:

• Make the aioli: Heat a small sauté pan over high heat. Add the butter and olive oil to the pan and immediately add the jalapeños and 4 of the garlic cloves. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until the jalapeños are nicely charred. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a food processor and add the remaining garlic clove, lemon juice and mayonnaise. Pulse until combined. (Don't worry if it isn't smooth.) Scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl, add the mint and season with salt and pepper. Pulse until well combined and chill. You can use it right away, but it will get better after a few hours.
• Prepare the catfish: In a shallow casserole dish, mix the flour, cornmeal, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Pour the buttermilk into a separate casserole dish.
• Pat catfish fillets dry, and using a very sharp chef's knife, slice them horizontally into 2 thinner fillets, about 1/2-inch thick.
• Pour the oil into a 12- to 14-inch skillet, preferably cast iron, and heat over medium heat until the oil is hot but not smoking. While it is heating, dip the catfish into the buttermilk, then lift out and shake off the excess liquid. Transfer the catfish sheets onto the dredge and press firmly on both sides.
• To test the oil, add a small piece of fish to the pan; if it bubbles immediately, the oil is ready. After dredging each fillet, add it to the pan, cooking as many as will comfortable fit into the pan at one time. Cook for about 4 minutes until the edges are golden brown, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes or until cooked through. Immediately transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat with remaining catfish.
• Transfer 2 catfish pieces to each plate and top each piece with the jalapeño-mint aioli. Serve immediately with lemon on the side.

CRISPY JALAPEñO & ONION PETALS

Steps:

• Cut the onion in half and then into wedges. Separate the onion layers and add them to a bowl. Slice the jalapeños (seeds and all if you like things spicy) into very thin rounds and add to the bowl. Pour over the buttermilk and stir to combine. Let sit while you get the remaining ingredients together.
• Combine the flour, salt and a generous pinch of black pepper in a separate bowl, then set aside.
• Add 1 inch of oil to a large, heavy-bottom skillet. Heat to 375 degrees F or until a pinch of the flour sizzles when added to the skillet.
• Using tongs, remove a handful of onions and jalapeños from the buttermilk and immediately dunk into the flour mixture, thoroughly coating them. Tap them on the inside of the bowl to shake off the excess.
• Carefully add the coated onions and jalapeños to the hot oil, breaking them up with a spoon, so they don't stick together. Cook until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Repeat with the remaining onions and jalapeños.
• Serve immediately.

CRISPY FRIED CALAMARI & AïOLI

Steps:

• Cut the tentacles off the squid and put in a bowl. Slice the squid tubes into roughly 1cm thick rings and add to the bowl. Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan over a low heat, ensuring it is no more than two-thirds full.
• For the aïoli, mix the mayonnaise, garlic, saffron and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Toss the squid with the flour, cornflour, baking powder, cayenne and ½ tsp salt. When the oil has reached 170C on a thermometer, or when a cube of bread is dropped in and turns golden brown in 30 seconds, deep-fry the squid in batches for 2 mins, or until lightly golden and crisp. Set aside on a tray lined with kitchen paper. Serve the fried squid with the aïoli on the side for dipping.

CASCADE STYLE HOT JALAPENO CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Rinse the fish under running water, then pat dry with paper towels.
• Mix together the crushed potato chips, black pepper (to taste), garlic powder, paprika or ancho, and flour, stirring well; pour onto a shallow plate.
• Mix together the egg and milk; pour onto a shallow plate.
• Lightly oil a large baking pan (one large enough so that none of the fillets will touch).
• Dredge and coat a fillet with the egg mixture, then dredge in the potato chip mixture so that the fillet has a thick crust; place fillet in baking dish and repeat with other fillets.
• Bake uncovered at 375 for 30 to 35 minutes, serve immediately, and enjoy!
• My husband likes salsa on his, but I eat mine just as it is... yum!
• Tim's potato chips: http://www.agrilinkfoods.com/tims/.

COUNTRY FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 10 inch cast iron skillet to 350°F.
• Combine all (DRY) ingredients in a large bowl.
• Dip cat fish in cold water, then coat with Dry mix.
• Place Cat fish in hot oil carefully not to burn your self, (do not over crowd fish).
• Fry till golden brown (about 5 to 10 minutes), remove to drain on paper towels.
• Serve with TarTar sauce and lemon wedges on the side.
• Suggested side dishes, Fried Potatoes& Onions,and Golden Hominy and Hush Puppies.

JALAPENO-LIME AIOLI

Steps:

• Place the garlic and salt in the bowl of a food processor.
• Process until pureed.
• Add the egg and egg yolk and process, scraping down the sides of the bowl to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
• With the machine running, very slowly add the canola oil,.
• a few drops at a time at first; and then in a thin steady stream; it will emulsify and thicken.
• Once the oil is added and the aioli has formed,.
• quickly pulse in the lime zest and the lime juice.
• Transfer to a bowl and stir in the peppers.
• The aioli may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 day.

CATFISH FILLETS WITH JALAPENO TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Begin heating 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat in a deep, heavy pot to 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile, combine beer, mustard, 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper in a small shallow bowl; mix well.
• Put the cornmeal in another shallow bowl.
• Dip the fish into the cornmeal and coat, then dip it into the beer mixture.
• Add to the hot oil, one piece at time, cooking in batches if necessary. Do not crowd the pan.
• Fry until crispy and golden brown.
• To Make the jalapeno tartar sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients and mix.
• Chill until ready to serve with the catfish.