Crispy Cayenne Cocktail Catfish Food

CRISPY CAYENNE COCKTAIL CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine the catfish with the zest of one lime, the juice of both limes, the cayenne flakes, and the vermouth. Let marinate about 1 hour.
• Drain catfish well.
• Heat 1/2 an inch of oil, half olive and half canola, in a skillet on medium to medium high. (When ready a drop of water will sizzle but the oil won't be hot enough to smoke).
• Beat egg into milk in a shallow bowl.
• Combine 1/4 cup flour with salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine remaining dry ingredients in a plastic bag.
• Dip each piece of fish into the flour then into the egg/milk mixture. Shake in breading bag until well coated.
• Fry pieces in the hot oil until the first side is browned. Do not crowd the pieces in the pan. Turn and brown the other side. Repeat until all batches are done.
• Serve with hot sauce, additional cayenne pepper flakes, lime wedges, and lemon wedges available at the table.
• I suggest completing the meal with baked sweet potatoes and cole slaw.
• Note: Today's farm-raised catfish is almost never muddy-tasting, but if yours is wild-caught the lime and vermouth marinade will eliminate the problem.

THIN-CUT CATFISH WITH SPILLWAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a large Dutch oven fitted with a deep-frying thermometer halfway with oil and heat to 360 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with paper towels and fit with a wire rack.
• Unwrap the catfish and place on a parchment-lined quarter sheet tray. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill and firm up.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the cornmeal, corn flour and Cajun seasoning in a pie plate or casserole dish. In a second pie plate, beat together the eggs, hot sauce, some salt and pepper and 1/2 cup water.
• Remove the fish from the freezer and use a boning knife to very carefully cut each fillet into thin pieces. (You should be able to get 4 to 5 pieces from each fillet.)
• In batches, dredge the fish through the egg mixture and then through the cornmeal mixture, then add to the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd. Fry, turning as needed, until crisp and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to the prepared wire rack. Repeat with the remaining catfish.
• Serve the catfish with the Spillway Sauce on the side.
• Mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire in a small bowl.

CRUNCHY CATFISH SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the Spicy Tartar Sauce: Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• In a deep 12-inch pan set over medium-high heat, add enough oil so it comes 1/3 of the way up the sides. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F.
• In a wide-mouth bowl, whisk the eggs with the hot sauce, seafood seasoning and a pinch of salt. In a small paper bag, mix together the cornmeal, flour, cornstarch, and salt and pepper, to taste. Dredge the catfish in egg mixture, then in the flour mixture. Gently shake off excess flour. Set aside and repeat with remaining flounder. Fry the fish in batches until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes each side, being careful to keep the temperature at 375 degrees F. Remove catfish to a paper towel to drain and immediately season with salt.
• Slice the sandwich rolls in half, slather the cut sides with butter and season with salt. Arrange, cut side up, on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly golden, about 8 minutes. An alternate is to put them, buttered side down, on a griddle or under a broiler, and toast until golden. Set aside.
• To assemble sandwiches, slather the rolls with the Spicy Tartar Sauce, top with lettuce and catfish, and serve.

CAJUN COMPROMISE CATFISH

Steps:

• Soak the fish pieces in milk for at least 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and hot pepper sauce. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, pepper, mustard and Cajun seasoning. Dip fish pieces into the dry mixture, then into the egg, then back into the dry mix. Set on a plate in the refrigerator and chill for about 15 minutes. This will help the batter stick to the fish.
• Heat more than enough oil to cover the bottom of a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry fish pieces for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Depending on how much and what kind of Cajun seasoning you used, some of the breading may get darker than the rest.
• Drain the fish on paper towels and serve with hot sauce or tartar sauce. Enjoy!

SEARED CATFISH CREOLE

Steps:

• Pat the catfish dry, and spread a layer of mustard over the surface. Place the cracked pepper onto a plate, and press the coated catfish into the pepper so it is well covered.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the catfish for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes with a fork.

BAKED CAJUN CATFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; brush over both sides of fish., Place fish in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 10-13 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

CRISPY CATFISH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Mix cornmeal, breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic salt and pepper.
• Lightly brush dressing on all sides of fish.
• Coat fish with cornmeal mixture.
• Place fish on rack in broiler pan. Bake, uncovered, 15 to 18 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.

CRUNCHY CATFISH NUGGETS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix dry bread crumbs and lemon pepper. Place egg substitute in a separate small bowl. Dip catfish pieces in the egg substitute, then into the bread crumb mixture to coat.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Place coated catfish pieces in the hot oil. Fry on both sides until lightly browned and fish is easily flaked with a fork, about 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

CRISPY BUFFALO STYLE CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine cornmeal, flour, ground chili powder, cayenne to taste, garlic powder, salt, and pepper on a shallow dish.
• Coat each fillet in the beaten egg, then dredge in the cornmeal mixture.
• Place breaded fillets in a single layer on a plate, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set breading.
• In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 Tbsp of the butter together with the oil.
• Take chilled fillets from refrigerator and brown them until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes per side.
• Transfer cooked fish to serving plates.
• Over low heat, heat remaining butter in the same pan you cooked the fish in; sauté the minced onion and minced garlic clove for 3 minutes, then stir in the hot pepper sauce, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to get up the cooked bits.
• Divide the sauce between the 4 servings and drizzle over the fillets.
• Serve fillets immediately with good blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

CRISPY CATFISH

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, whick together the egg and milk.
• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the cereal, flour, cornmeal and seasonings.
• Dip the fish fillets into egg mixture, then coat with cereal mixture.
• In a large skillet, heat 1/4-inch of oil over medium-high heat.
• Fry the fillets for 5-7 minutes on each side.

CRISPY CATFISH

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, combine the first four ingredients. Pat fillets dry; dip in butter, then coat with crumb mixture. , Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. Grill fillets, covered, over medium-hot heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork.