Southern Fried Cat Fish Food

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine the wet ingredients in a large bowl - whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce together.
• Now, soak the catfish fillets in the egg mixture. Make sure the fillets are fully coated. Let that sit while you mix up the dry ingredients.
• In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients - flour, cornmeal, salt, paprika, pepper, and lemon pepper. (And cayenne if you are using it.)
• Mix well to ensure an even distribution of seasoning.
• Now, dredge the soaked fillets in the cornmeal mixture and make sure they are fully coated. Shake off any excess breading.
• Place the fillets on a plate and cover. Let them sit in the refrigerator for 10 - 15 minutes while you heat your oil - this will help the breading stick to the fish.

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.

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.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, mayonnaise, scallions and relish to make a tartar sauce. Refrigerate until needed.
• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Combine cornmeal, Blackfish Spice and salt and pepper, to taste. Dredge catfish fillets in seasoned cornmeal. Deep-fry coated pieces in batches until they are cooked through, about 10 minutes. (For basic reference, use the manufacturer's instructions for your deep fryer for similar foods, then test the fish see that it is fork tender.) Allow to drain on paper towels and serve with tartar sauce and fresh lemon wedges (to squeeze lemon juice over the fish).

CLASSIC SOUTHERN-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 200 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a rack in the pan.
• Arrange the catfish in a wide, shallow bowl or pie plate. Pour the buttermilk over the fish.
• Combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder on a pie plate.
• Take the fish out of the buttermilk and dredge the fish fillets in the flour mixture to coat thoroughly. Shake off excess flour mixture.
• Heat up 1 inch of oil in a deep, heavy skillet or heavy Dutch oven over high heat.
• The oil must be 350 F. Use a candy thermometer or drop a pinch of the flour mixture into the oil-if it bubbles and floats, the oil is ready. Just be mindful of maintaining the oil temperature while cooking the fish. Don't overcrowd the pan, as doing so will lower the oil temperature.
• Carefully place 2 to 3 fillets in the pan.
• Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until golden brown. If the oil isn't deep enough to cover the fish, turn the fillets carefully after about 3 minutes.
• Remove the fish to the rack in the baking pan and place in the oven while you cook another batch. Repeat until all of the fish fillets are cooked. Serve hot with your favorite sides.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat Grease to 360 degrees.
• In a bowl or pie plate or even a plastic bag place your cornstarch in and add a filet of your favorite fish. Close the bag and shake to coat the fish.
• Beat your eggs in a bowl and run the corn starched filets through the eggs.
• Mix your Corn Meal, Corn Flour, All Purpose Flour and Cajun Seasonings together in a Bowl, Pie Plate or a plastic bag and run your corn starched, egged filets through the flour mixture. Close the bag and shake to coat the fish.
• Fry for 5 minutes for an average sized filet.