Catfish Poppers With Spicy Dipping Sauce Recipes

CATFISH POPPERS WITH SPICY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the salt, Cajun seasoning and flour in a bowl.
• In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
• First dredge the fish in the flour, then dip in the eggs and finally dredge in the breadcrumbs.
• Fry the catfish pieces in about 1/2" of oil heated to 375 degrees.
• Fry about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
• Drain and serve with the Spicy Dipping Sauce.
• Spicy Dipping Sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, cocktail sauce, lemon juice, red pepper and Old Bay in a bowl.
• Chill, covered, until ready to serve with the poppers.

PECAN-CRUSTED CATFISH WITH SPICY CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pecan-crusted catfish: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and set aside. Pulse the cornmeal with the pecans and some salt and pepper in a food processor until uniform and the size of breadcrumbs. Create a breading station with the flour on a plate, the milk and egg beaten together and the pecan-cornmeal mixture on another plate. Be sure to sprinkle salt and pepper on each part of the breading station. Dip the fish in the flour, then the egg, then the cornmeal mixture. Heat the oil in a large oven-safe saute pan over medium heat. Brown the coated catfish until golden on one side, about 3 minutes. Then turn the fillets over and place in the oven to finish cooking, about 10 minutes longer (a few minutes more if the fillets are thick).
• For the spicy cream sauce: Place the onions and garlic with the stock, wine and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Boil and reduce for 5 minutes, gently pressing on the onions and garlic to release the flavors. Remove the onion and garlic and discard. Turn down the heat to low and whisk in the steak sauce and lemon juice, then the sour cream. Allow to cook and reduce 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. (Place back on the heat for 10 seconds if needed to keep the temperature high enough.)

SPICY CATFISH WITH BELL PEPPERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper. Dust lightly with flour. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish to skillet. Cook until golden brown and just opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer fish to plates. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil, onion and bell peppers to same skillet. Sauté until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add vinegar and jalapeño. Stir 1 minute. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Spoon over fish.

CAJUN COMPROMISE CATFISH

Steps:

• Soak the fish pieces in milk for at least 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and hot pepper sauce. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, pepper, mustard and Cajun seasoning. Dip fish pieces into the dry mixture, then into the egg, then back into the dry mix. Set on a plate in the refrigerator and chill for about 15 minutes. This will help the batter stick to the fish.
• Heat more than enough oil to cover the bottom of a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry fish pieces for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Depending on how much and what kind of Cajun seasoning you used, some of the breading may get darker than the rest.
• Drain the fish on paper towels and serve with hot sauce or tartar sauce. Enjoy!

SPICY CATFISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir onions and carrots until onions are slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Melt butter with onions and carrots; cook and stir zucchini and garlic in the melted butter until onions are translucent, about 7 more minutes.
• Stir beer, seafood seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, chile-garlic sauce, sea salt, oregano, and black pepper into the vegetable mixture and gently lay catfish fillets over top of vegetables. Pour tomatoes with their juice over the vegetables and catfish. Cover pot and bring to a simmer; cook until catfish are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Break the catfish fillets apart into bite-size chunks.
• Pour in a tomato can of water and stir in corn; simmer the chowder covered until vegetables are tender and flavors have blended, at least 30 more minutes.

CREOLE BROILED CATFISH

Steps:

• Position a rack 5 inches below the heating element of an oven and preheat the broiler to high.
• Rinse the fish fillets under cold running water and pat them dry. Brush both sides with oil and arrange them in a single layer on a broiler pan lined with aluminum foil.
• Mix together the seasoned pepper, garlic powder, and seasoned salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle half of the spice mixture over one side of the fish.
• Broil for 5 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully turn the fish over. Sprinkle with the remaining spice mixture. Continue broiling until the fish is opaque in the center, 3 to 5 minutes more. Serve immediately.