Dixie Fried Catfish Food

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.

FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Mix cornmeal, flour, salt, red pepper, garlic powder and black pepper in a shallow bowl. Dredge catfish fillets in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• Fill a deep fryer, or large deep skillet half full with oil and heat to 375 degrees. Fry fish 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

DIXIE FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 12" skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
• Combine cormeal, salt, and peppers. Dredge catfish in flour then dip in egg mixture. Coat the fish with the cornmeal mixture.
• Fry 2 fish at a time until golden, about 6 minutes per side. Keep cooked catfish warm in a 275 degree oven.

PAT'S PAN-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Dry your catfish filets with paper towels.
• Pour 1 cup of the flour on a plate and "dust" the filets and set them aside on another plate for about half an hour. (This process helps to keep the coating on the fish as they fry).
• Next, heat the shortening in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Set up a shallow medium-sized bowl and a dinner plate for "drenching" and "dredging" the fillets.
• In the bowl, break the eggs and beat them a bit, then add the buttermilk and the lemon juice and whisk these ingredients a few seconds until blended.
• On the plate, pour the remaining cup of flour, cornmeal, garlic salt, thyme, table salt, baking soda, and fennel (if you're using it). Mix it up with a fork or with your fingers.
• Dip a fillet into the liquid, coating it totally, and then allow it to drip off a bit. Then, roll it carefully in the flour/cornmeal mix until it is coated all over. Carefully lay the fillet in the hot oil. It should start frying immediately -- if not, your oil is not hot enough!
• Repeat this process until you have half of the fillets in the pan. You don't want to crowd them so plan on doing the fish in two separate batches.
• When the fillets have turned a golden brown on the bottom side, carefully turn them to fry the other side. Remove them to a plate with some paper towels on it once they are golden brown all over (about 3-4 minutes for each side). (The fillets should be snow-white in the thick portion of the fillet, and the meat should "flake apart" when pulled apart with a fork).
• Serve either as a sandwich, or, plate up the fish with side dishes (I like good coleslaw and baked beans with my catfish). A tangy tartar sauce is also good with fried catfish. Enjoy!
• NOTE: Pan-fried catfish makes an EXCELLENT breakfast, along with fried potatoes, when you're camping!

DOLLY PARTON'S PAN-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Wash the catfish fillets in cold water and pat dry.
• Melt enough lard or shortening in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat to reach 3/4-inch deep.
• While the lard/shortening is melting, pour the cornmeal into a large, shallow plate or dish.
• Season both sides of the catfish fillets (remember to pat them dry, first) with salt and pepper, then dredge them in the cornmeal and shake off any excess.
• When the melted fat is hot but not smoking, carefully slide the fillets into the pan (careful not to splatter, and don't crowd the pan because you want the fish to fry and not steam). Fry the fish in batches if necessary.
• Fry the fillets about 4 minutes per side, until crisp and golden brown.
• Put paper towels on a platter and transfer the fried fillets to the platter with a slotted spatula or spoon.
• Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite catfish sauce (tartar, cocktail, etc). Make sure to have plenty of napkins, hush puppies, corn on the cob, and coleslaw, too!
• Makes 6 servings.

EASY LOW-FAT OVEN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Heavily spray a large non-stick baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour egg substitute in large shallow bowl.
• Sprinkle with some Emeril's essence; also some salt and pepper, if you prefer.
• Place fish coating on a large plate.
• Add some Essence to this also, if you wish.
• Rinse fish fillets.
• Squeeze lemon wedges over fish.
• Sprinkle with Essence, salt and pepper on both side of fish.
• Dip in coating.
• Dip fish in egg substitute, then again in fish coating, and place on baking sheet.
• Bake at 450°F for approximately 10-15 minutes, until bottom of fish starts to brown.
• Turn fish, and bake about 5-8 minutes more, until fish is browned and crisp.
• Serve.

FRIED CATFISH WITH DICKEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the eggs, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and milk together in a large bowl and beat it until frothy.
• In a shallow dish large enough to contain the fish, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, and lemon pepper.
• With a small knife, score both sides of the catfish four times across, deeply, about 11/2 inches apart.
• Dip the catfish into the egg wash, then dredge it completely with the cornmeal mixture, evenly coating the fish; set it aside.
• In a large pot or deep fryer, heat the oil to 325 degrees. Add the fish-one at a time for whole fish (if using fillets, two at a time)-and cook 7-8 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Remove and place on paper towels to drain. Serve with scallions and Dickey sauce.
• DICKEY SAUCE DIRECTIONS:.
• In a medium bowl, fold together the Miracle Whip, mayonnaise, relish, onion, and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate it until ready to use.