Whole Fried Catfish Food

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.

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.

WHOLE FRIED CATFISH WITH GINGER SHRIMP SAUCE

Steps:

• Made four cuts into each side of catfish and season with salt and aside for 1 hour. Heat oil to 360°. Coat the whole catfish inside and out with cornstarch. Deep fry to a golden brown and place in warm oven until needed.
• In a mixing bowl blend together calm juice, rice wines, soy sauce and oyster sauce, set aside.
• In a hot wok add oils, ginger, onion, garlic and shrimp stir-fry for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the clam sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Thicken with cornstarch roux. Spoon over the whole catfish and top with Chinese parsley.

PAN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Rinse the fillets and pat them dry with paper towels. Mix the cornmeal, flour, salt, creole seasoning, paprika, and pepper together in a shallow dish. Pour the milk into a second shallow dish. Dip the fillets into the milk and then into the cornmeal mixture, coating them well and shaking of any excess.
• Heat 1/2 the butter in a large skillet over high heat, and fry 2 of the fillets for about 3 minutes on each side, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
• Transfer the fillets to a serving platter and keep warm. Repeat with remaining butter and fillets. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon wedges.

FRIED WHOLE CATFISH WITH SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE

Steps:

• Set aside the cornstarch roux.
• In a 2 1/2 qt pot add vinegar, water, sugar, catsup, plum sauce, ginger and salt and bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes in a medium low heat. Stirring from time to time. Adjust at this point and time to taste. Thicken with the cornstarch roux and keep warm.
• Take the whole catfish and clean inside and outside and with a chef knife make 3 slice along the side of the catfish about 2" apart and season with salt the inside and outside and cover the catfish with cornstarch and pat off extras cornstarch.
• In a wok halfway fill with oil over a high heat to 350° and place the catfish head first and lower catfish into the hot oil and deep fry to a golden brown and with a wok spatula of hot oil pour over the catfish. Place the cooked catfish onto a large serving platter and pour the sweet and sour sweet over the catfish.