Southern Fried Fish Food

SOUTHERN FRIED FISH

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the rice flour, Creole seasoning, black pepper, garlic powder smoked paprika and yellow cornmeal, and whisk together until evenly mixed. Add the seasoned cornmeal to a large piece of wax paper.
• Heat the oil in a large, deep cast-iron skillet until at least 325 degrees F (or add a few drops of cornmeal and if it sizzles, it's ready to start frying).
• Rinse off the fish fillets and place in a large baking dish. Shake a few drops of hot sauce on both sides of 2 of the fish fillets, then coat both sides with the seasoned cornmeal. Fry the coated fillets in the hot oil, without turning, until the edges turn brown, about 4 minutes. Flip over and fry about another 4 minutes. Drain on a paper towel or wire rack. Repeat the coating and frying with the remaining 2 fillets.

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, 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.

FISH FINGER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Mix the fajita seasoning with the flour and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Put the beaten eggs and the breadcrumbs in two separate bowls, then line all three bowls up.
• Working in batches, coat the fish in the seasoned flour, then shake off any excess and dip in the egg, followed by the breadcrumbs. Place the coated fish fingers on a plate.
• Pour enough oil into a large frying pan so that it covers the base. Heat the oil over a medium-high heat, then fry the fish fingers in batches until golden and cooked through (approx 3 mins). Drain on kitchen paper and season with sea salt. Transfer them to a low oven to keep warm.
• Spread each roll with 1 tbsp of mayonnaise and a handful of lettuce, then build up your sarnies with the hot fish fingers, tomatoes and gherkins. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over and kitchen paper.