Fried Catfish Po Boys Food

FRIED CATFISH PO BOY

Steps:

• Pour about 3 inches of oil in a deep fryer or large, heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the smashed garlic and swirl the pot around to infuse the garlic flavor into the butter. Slice the French bread in 1/2 lengthwise and brush the top and insides with the garlic butter. Stick the bread in the oven for 5 minutes to warm it through.
• Season both sides of the catfish fillets with a fair amount of salt and pepper. In a wide bowl, mix the milk and egg together, season with salt and pepper. Mix the cornmeal, flour, cayenne, salt and pepper in a pie dish using a fork. Dip the catfish in the wet batter, then dredge in the dry; being sure to cover the fillets completely. Gently drop the fish in the hot oil in batches so the pan is not overcrowded. Fry the fillets for 3 minutes and then drain on a platter lined with paper towels; sprinkle with salt while they are still hot.
• To assemble the sandwich, put the pickles across the bottom 1/2 of the bread, lay the fried catfish on top. Spoon a small mound of slaw on top of the catfish and close up the sandwich with the top 1/2 of the bread. Cut into portions and serve immediately with hot sauce and lemon on the side.
• Combine the cabbage, carrot, red onion, green onions, and chile in a large bowl.
• In another bowl, mix the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar; stirring to incorporate. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss gently to mix. Season the cole slaw with celery seed, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Chill for 2 hours in refrigerator while frying the catfish.

CATFISH PO' BOY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Fill a large Dutch oven halfway with oil. Heat to 350 degrees F over medium heat. Line a baking sheet with a wire cooling rack.
• Sprinkle the catfish with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1 teaspoon of the Cajun seasoning. Set up a breading station with 3 shallow dishes. In the first dish, season the flour with the remaining 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. Lightly beat the egg in the second dish. Mix the breadcrumbs and a pinch of salt in the last dish. Bread the fillets in the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs, allowing the excess from each to drip off. Carefully slip them into the hot oil and fry for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove to the cooling rack. Place 2 slices of American cheese on each piece of fish and put in the oven until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise, tartar sauce, chives, capers, Dijon and sriracha in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, toss the lettuce with the red wine vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Spread the sauce on both halves of the hoagie. Layer the bottom bun with pickles, tomatoes, fish, lettuce and assorted chips. Top with the other half of the bun.

SHRIMP AND FISH PO' BOYS

Steps:

• For the shrimp and fish: Attach a deep-fry thermometer to the side of a heavy wide pot. Fill the pot 2 inches full with the oil. Heat to 350 degrees F over medium heat.
• Whisk the garlic powder, cayenne, thyme, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss the shrimp and tilapia with the spice mixture and stir to coat. Pour the milk over the fish and shrimp.
• Whisk the flour and cornmeal in a baking dish. Working in batches, toss the shrimp and tilapia in the flour mixture and then carefully place into the pot. Fry the shrimp and tilapia, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and just cooked through, about 4 minutes each batch. Transfer the shrimp and tilapia to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle the shrimp and tilapia with salt immediately after frying.
• For the creamy garlic spread: Blend the mayo, garlic, zest and lemon juice in a bowl.
• For the po' boys: Cut open the baguettes longwise, three-quarters of the way through the bread. Spread the cut sides with the creamy garlic spread. Divide the shrimp and tilapia among the baguettes and top with lettuce, tomato and hot sauce, if using.

FRIED CATFISH PO'BOY WITH CELERIAC REMOULADE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the remoulade: Combine the celeriac, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, capers, scallion, anchovy, hot sauce, garlic and lemon juice in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well.
• For the fried catfish: In a large heavy skillet, heat the oil to 365 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
• Set up 3 pans. In the first, mix 1/2 cup of the flour and some salt and pepper. In the second, mix the milk and the hot sauce. In the third, mix the remaining 1/2 cup flour and the cornmeal and cornstarch; season with salt and pepper
• Dredge the catfish fillets first through the flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dredge in the milk mixture, again shaking off the excess. Finally, dredge the catfish in the cornmeal mixture, making sure the fillets are completely coated. Let sit for 5 minutes.
• Carefully slide the breaded fillets into the hot oil and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Assemble the sandwich: Spread the cut sides of the baguettes with remoulade. Layer with sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and a catfish fillet. Chow down!

CATFISH PO' BOYS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, (Dutch oven) heat enough peanut oil to come halfway up the sides of the pot, to 365 degrees F.
• Slice the po' boy rolls in half, (not cutting through), and put them on a baking sheet. Lightly toast the bread in the preheated oven.
• Combine the corn flour, seasoning and salt and pepper, to taste, in a shallow dish. Pat the fillets dry and dredge them in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking of the excess.
• Once the oil is properly heated, carefully drop the catfish into the oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Fry until golden brown and beginning to float to the surface, about 5 minutes. Do not overcook. Carefully remove the fillets with a slotted spoon or spider and drain them on paper towels. Put 1 catfish fillet in each toasted roll and top with lettuce, tomatoes, and hot sauce. Serve with lemon wedges.

TORTILLA CRUSTED CATFISH PO' BOYS

Steps:

• Cut the catfish into 2-inch strips and pat dry. Stir together the flour and 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Whisk another tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning into the buttermilk. Pulse the tortillas in a food processor until finely ground with a third tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning.
• Add the vegetable oil to large, heavy-bottomed pot and bring to 350 degrees F over medium heat.
• Toss the catfish with the seasoned flour, then place the catfish in a sieve and shake off any excess flour. Divide the catfish strips into two batches. Dip the first batch in the buttermilk, letting the excess drip off, and then dredge in the tortillas. Fry the catfish until golden, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Dredge and fry the second batch of catfish in the same manner.
• Stir together the mayonnaise and the remaining tablespoon Cajun seasoning. Spread evenly on the rolls. Divide the iceberg and tomato slices among the rolls. Top with the catfish. Serve with hot sauce.

FRIED CATFISH PO BOY

Steps:

• To make the seasoned fry cornmeal: mix together all the ingredients (makes enough for about five 5-7 oz. catfish fillets).
• In a deep frying pan or pot, preheat enough vegetable oil to completely submerge the catfish, to 350°.
• Dredge the catfish fillet in the seasoned cornmeal; fry fillet in oil for 8 minutes (the catfish will float when done).
• Remove fillet from oil and place on paper towels or a brown paper bag to drain.
• Spread the top slice of toasted french bread with mayo.
• Add a layer of hamburger dill pickle slices and sprinkle with shredded green cabbage.
• Put the catfish fillet on the bottom slice; sandwich the two halves together; cut on the diagonal and serve right away.
• Additional or other topping suggestions: cheddar cheese, bacon, celery-seed laced coleslaw, jalapeno tartar sauce, Louisiana hot sauce.

FRIED FISH PO' BOYS WITH CAJUN FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Heat the oil in a large, deep heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with paper towels.
• For the fried fish po' boys: If using skin-on fish fillets, remove the skin, then cut into 4 equal pieces. Season each side of the 4 fillets with 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. Whisk together the eggs, milk and 2 teaspoons of the Creole seasoning in a large shallow bowl, baking dish or cake pan. Whisk together the flour and the remaining 1 tablespoon of the Creole seasoning in a second large shallow bowl, baking dish or cake pan.
• Dip 2 fillets in the egg mixture and carefully shake off any excess. Dip the fillets in the flour mixture and shake off any excess. Fry the fillets, flipping halfway through, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes depending on the thickness of your fish. Transfer the fish to the second prepared baking sheet and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve. Bring the oil back to 350 degrees F, then repeat with the remaining 2 fillets.
• For the Cajun French fries: Cut the potatoes into 1 1/2-inch sticks and transfer to a large bowl of cold water. Stir until the water is cloudy. Drain the potatoes, transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets, top with paper towels, press down to blot and let sit until the potatoes are dry, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Working in batches, gently add some potatoes to the hot oil, carefully shaking the skillet if needed to make sure the potatoes are completely covered with the oil. Fry until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer the fries with a spider to the same baking sheet. Bring the oil back to 350 degrees F between batches.
• Increase the temperature of the oil to 400 degrees F. Working in batches, add the fries and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the same baking sheet, sprinkle the Creole seasoning over top and toss with tongs.
• To assemble the po' boys: Evenly spread 1/4 cup mayonnaise on each baguette half. Place 1 cup lettuce, 1/4 cup pickles, half of the tomatoes, 2 fried fish fillets and hot sauce on the bottom half. Add some fries if desired, then add the top half. Repeat with the remaining baguette, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, fried fish fillets and hot sauce.
• For the Creole mayo: Stir together the mayonnaise, Creole seasoning and hot sauce in a small bowl. Serve with the po' boys and Cajun French fries.