Spicy Blackened Catfish Food

BLACKENED CATFISH

Steps:

• Heat a large cast iron skillet (recommended) or heavy aluminum skillet over high heat for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl stir together first 8 ingredients.
• Dip catfish into melted butter and coat both sides of fish with spice mixture, using about 1 T spice mixture for each fillet.
• Place fish on waxed paper.
• Place 3 fillets at a time in hot skillet.
• Drizzle each fillet with 1 T melted butter.
• Cook over high heat about 2 minutes per side or until fish flakes easily.
• Serve immediately.

BLACKENED CATFISH AND SPICY RICE

Steps:

• Bring the rice, water, Cajun seasoning, and hot pepper sauce to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While rice is cooking, mix thyme, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dill weed, and lemon pepper in a bowl until well blended. Brush catfish fillets with butter and sprinkle with seasoning mixture other both sides.
• Heat any remaining melted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; pan-fry seasoned catfish in butter until fish is easily flaked with a fork, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Serve catfish over a plate of seasoned rice. Pour leftover butter from the skillet over fish and sprinkle with lemon juice.

BLACKENED CATFISH WITH HARISSA MAYO

Steps:

• Stir the coriander, cumin, five-spice, cayenne, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper together in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend all over the catfish.
• Whisk the mayonnaise, harissa, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper together in another small bowl.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large and heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add half the catfish and cook, flipping once, until well browned and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining oil and catfish.
• Spread the harissa mayo on 4 plates and place the catfish on top. Serve with cilantro and lemon wedges.

BLACKENED TROUT WITH SPICY KALE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the celery and scallion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and 1 teaspoon each Cajun seasoning and brown sugar and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add the beans, tomatoes and 3/4 cup water; bring to a simmer and cook until the liquid is slightly reduced, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Stir in the kale and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the scallion greens and a few dashes of hot sauce.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons each Cajun seasoning and brown sugar and sprinkle on the flesh side of each fish fillet. Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add 2 fillets, seasoned-side down, and cook, undisturbed, until blackened on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully turn the fillets and cook until opaque, about 1 more minute. Transfer to plates. Repeat with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and 2 fish fillets. Serve with the kale and lemon wedges.

CAJUN BLACKENED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, mix together the black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, parsley, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, oregano, and thyme until thoroughly combined. Press the catfish fillets into the spice mixture to thoroughly coat.
• Arrange a portable heat source outdoors, such as a butane burner or side burner of a gas grill. Melt butter in a glass or metal bowl. Light the burner, and place a large cast-iron skillet onto the burner over high heat. Pour about 1/4 cup of melted butter into the skillet; set remaining 1/2 cup of butter aside.
• When the butter in the skillet is smoking hot, lay the catfish fillets into the skillet. Cook until the spices are burned onto the fillets and the catfish is opaque and flaky inside, about 3 minutes per side. Don't breathe smoke from burning spices. To serve, pour remaining 1/2 cup of butter over the catfish.

SPICY BLACKENED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the paprika, the oregano, the thyme, the cayenne, the sugar, the salt, and the black pepper, pat the catfish dry, and sprinkle the spice mixture on both sides of the fillet, coating them well. In a large skillet sauté the garlic in the oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until it is golden brown and discard the garlic. Add the butter, heat it until the foam subsides, and in the fat sauté the catfish for 4 minutes on each side, or until it is cooked through. Transfer the catfish fillets with a slotted spatula to 2 plates and serve them with the lemon wedges.

SPICY GRILLED CATFISH

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or preheat the broiler.
• Mix olive oil, lime juice, wine, mustard, chili powder, pepper, cilantro and salt in a medium bowl.
• Transfer half of the marinade mixture to another bowl and reserve for basting catfish.
• Add catfish to the first bowl; marinate for 15 minutes.
• Drain fillets and discard marinade.
• Place fillets on an oiled grill rack or broiler pan rack.
• Grill or broil 4 inches from the heat source, basting with reserved marinade, for about 3 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

BLACKENED CATFISH

Steps:

• Heat broiler; coat the rack of a broiler pan with cooking spray. In a shallow bowl, stir together cornmeal, paprika, thyme, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper.
• Dredge fillets in cornmeal mixture, turning to coat. Shake off excess, and place on prepared rack; broil until opaque throughout and blackened on the outside, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges, if desired.

CATFISH IN SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Purée tomatoes with their juice in a blender. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic, spices, and 3/4 teaspoon salt, stirring, until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Add tomato purée and sugar and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Pour sauce into a 13- by 9-inch baking dish. Pat fish dry and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Arrange fillets in 1 layer on sauce, tucking each tail end under if necessary to fit, and bake until fish is just cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley.