As anyone who knows me will attest, my favorite fish to eat is catfish. There’s nothing quite like a catfish fillet fried to perfection and seasoned just right. While fried catfish may be the most traditional (and in my opinion, the tastiest) method of preparing the fish, there are other ways to serve it. I know I’m not alone in my love for catfish, so I thought I’d provide you all with a few simple recipes for catfish that I’ve fallen in love with over the years. Enjoy!
Classic Fried Catfish
1 quart peanut oil
1 cup fine cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
6 catfish fillets, rinsed and patted dry
¾ cup low-fat buttermilk
1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F on a thermometer
2. Whisk cornmeal and flour together in a small dish
3. Combine the Old Bay, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl
4. Pour buttermilk into another dish
5. Season both sides of each fillet with the spice mixture, then coat both sides in buttermilk, allowing excess milk to drip off
6. Coat both sides of the fillet in the cornmeal mixture and cool for 5 minutes
7. Once cooled, add the fillets—2 at a time—to oil and fry until golden brown (about 5-6 minutes)
8. Remove the fillets from the oil and cool
9. Repeat with each fillet and arrange on a serving platter to be served
Blackened Catfish
2 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 catfish fillets
2 tablespoons canola oil
1. On a plate, mix paprika, cayenne pepper, thyme, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper for the spice mixture
2. Coat fillets in the mixture and set aside
3. Heat a pan over high heat and add oil
4. Add fillets, two at a time, and cook about 2-3 minutes on each side until done, and serve
5. Garnish with lemon wedges, if desired
These recipes are ones that I’ve learned from friends or family and have used for years when preparing catfish. While fried is absolutely my favorite, blackened catfish possesses its own great flavor and serves as a healthier alternative to its fried counterpart. Try the recipes out and feel free to add your own spin to them with whatever ingredients you see fit. Though, I can tell you from personal experience that it would be hard to improve upon them.
