Fried Catfish Fingers With Spicy Dipping Sauce Recipes

FRIED CATFISH FINGERS

Steps:

• Place the catfish strips in a large shallow dish and pour the buttermilk over the top (if using the hot sauce, whisk the hot sauce into the buttermilk first). Turn the strips to make sure they are coated in the buttermilk. Allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dry mustard and cayenne together in a large shallow dish.
• Fill a large (10- or 12-inch) skillet with vegetable oil to a depth of 1/2 inch and heat over medium-high heat until very hot: A pinch of the cornmeal mixture should sizzle when it hits the oil.
• Remove the catfish strips from the buttermilk and discard the buttermilk. Let the excess liquid drip off the strips before dredging. Dredge the catfish strips in the cornmeal mixture until evenly coated, shaking off the excess.
• Carefully lay the first strip into the hot oil, then add as many strips as can comfortably fit into the pan without overcrowding; you want to keep an inch or so of space between each piece. Fry the strips until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side, then transfer the strips to a wire rack to drain. Repeat with the remaining strips, adding more oil if necessary (be sure to reheat the oil if you add more).
• Sprinkle the catfish fingers with Lemon Parsley Salt and serve with lemon wedges.
• Place the parsley leaves on a plate covered with a paper towel. Microwave on medium-high heat in 30-second intervals until the parsley dries out (but retains color), about 2 minutes depending on your microwave.
• Blend the salt with the lemon zest and parsley leaves in a spice grinder or blender until fine. Makes about 1/3 cup.

CATFISH FINGERS WITH CAJUN REMOULADE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce: In the bowl of a food processor, add the onions, celery and capers and process until finely chopped. Mix the chopped vegetables with the mayonnaise, relish, seafood seasoning, pepper and celery salt.
• For the catfish: Preheat the deep fryer to 325 degrees F. In the bowl of a food processor, add the cornmeal, flour, pecans, seafood seasoning and celery salt and pulse until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Dip the catfish slices in the eggs, then coat the catfish in the cornmeal mixture. Fry the fish until golden brown. Serve the hot catfish with remoulade sauce on the side.

THIN-CUT CATFISH WITH SPILLWAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a large Dutch oven fitted with a deep-frying thermometer halfway with oil and heat to 360 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with paper towels and fit with a wire rack.
• Unwrap the catfish and place on a parchment-lined quarter sheet tray. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill and firm up.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the cornmeal, corn flour and Cajun seasoning in a pie plate or casserole dish. In a second pie plate, beat together the eggs, hot sauce, some salt and pepper and 1/2 cup water.
• Remove the fish from the freezer and use a boning knife to very carefully cut each fillet into thin pieces. (You should be able to get 4 to 5 pieces from each fillet.)
• In batches, dredge the fish through the egg mixture and then through the cornmeal mixture, then add to the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd. Fry, turning as needed, until crisp and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to the prepared wire rack. Repeat with the remaining catfish.
• Serve the catfish with the Spillway Sauce on the side.
• Mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire in a small bowl.

FRIED CATFISH FINGERS WITH SPICY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Place cornmeal in a shallow dish, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge catfish strips in cornmeal mixture, shaking off excess. Set aside on a wax-paper lined baking sheet.. Pour 2 inches of peanut oil into a deep fryer or a large, heavy skillet, and heat to 375 degrees. Add catfish strips to hot oil, three at a time, and fry in a single layer for 5 minutes, turning to cook evenly, until golden brown and fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt.. Prepare dipping sauce 1 minute before serving catfish fingers. Mix vinegar, salt, pepper, shallot, garlic, green onions and parsley in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

DEEP FRIED CATFISH BITES WITH A KICKBACK SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. DIPPING SAUCE
• 2. Gather your ingredients.
• 3. Add the mayonnaise, brown mustard, lime juice, honey, brown sugar, mustard powder, and Worcestershire sauce in a medium bowl.
• 4. Whisk to combine.
• 5. Season with hot sauce and salt to your own particular tastes.
• 6. Mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
• 7. Cover, and reserve.
• 8. Chef's Note: If you have the time, allow the dipping sauce to sit for 2 to 3 hours, or overnight. This will help give the ingredients a chance to know each other.
• 9. THE CATFISH
• 10. Gather your ingredients.
• 11. Cut the catfish into bite-sized pieces, and reserve.
• 12. Add the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and the cayenne pepper to a large bowl.
• 13. Whisk to combine.
• 14. Chef's Note: Adjust the salt to your own tastes, or leave it out altogether.
• 15. Add the beer.
• 16. Whisk until there are no lumps and the mixture is completely smooth.
• 17. Chef's Tip: If you have any left over beer, you should drink it down. We don't want anything wasted.
• 18. Chef's Note: If the batter is still a bit thick, add some water to thin it down.
• 19. Mix the remaining 1-teaspoon of salt with the pepper, garlic powder, and paprika and/or dill, if using.
• 20. Use this to lightly season the fish on both sides.
• 21. Chef's Note: You will probably have more of the salt/pepper/garlic mixture than what you need. Discard any that's left.
• 22. Preheat your oil to 350f (176c).
• 23. Chef's Tip: If you have a deep fryer, most are preset to this temperature. If you are using a pot, then use a thermometer to keep the temperature as close to 350f (176c) as possible.
• 24. Dip a piece of catfish into the batter and then carefully place into the hot oil.
• 25. Chef's Tip: Place several pieces into the oil, but don't overcrowd.
• 26. Keep the catfish moving in the oil so that they don't stick.
• 27. Fry until the catfish bites are nice and brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• 28. Place the cooked catfish on a paper towel, and repeat for the remaining catfish.
• 29. Chef's Tip: To keep the catfish warm, you might want to place them on a paper-towel lined baking sheet. Preset the oven to 200f (94c), and keep them in there until ready to serve.
• 30. Chef's Note: If you have any batter left over, and you probably will, drizzle it into the hot oil, and make some crunchies, put them in the plate and lay the catfish on top. I think some people like the crunchies more than the catfish.
• 31. To serve, add to a serving plate, with the dipping sauce on the side. Add a few lemon wedges, and there you go. Enjoy.
• 32. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

NEELY'S MEMPHIS-STYLE CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F.
• Mix the cornmeal, paprika and cayenne in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, add the buttermilk and the hot sauce.
• Season the catfish with salt and pepper. Dredge in the buttermilk and then the cornmeal and spice mixture.
• Drop carefully in the hot oil. Fry for 4 minutes until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with Remoulade Sauce.
• Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH WITH SPICY CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• BEAT eggs, buttermilk and Frank's RedHot Sauce in 2-qt. shallow dish. Add fish fillets and turn to coat well.
• MIX cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper on a sheet of waxed paper.
• DREDGE fillets in cornmeal mixture.
• DEEP-FRY fillets, 2 pieces at a time, in 350°F oil about 5 min. until golden and fish flakes. Splash on Frank's RedHot Sauce and serve with Tangy Dipping Sauce.

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.

SPICY CATFISH TENDERS WITH CAJUN TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Make Tartar Sauce: Stir together all ingredients in a bowl and chill, until ready to serve.
• Prepare fish: Whisk together egg and hot sauce in a wide shallow dish.
• Stir in fish strips and let stand at room temperature at least 10 and up to 30 minutes.
• Pour enough oil into a 4 to 5 quart heavy pot to measure 2 inches and heat over medium heat until thermometer registers 350°F (you can use a fry daddy) Stir flour, cornmeal, salt and Cajun seasoning in another wide shallow dish.
• Fry fish; drain fish well in a colander.
• Dredge one fourth of fish in flour mixture shaking off excess flour, then fry in oil, stirring occasionally with a slotted spoon, until golden brown and just cooked through,1 1/2 to 2 minutes, remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Repeat until all fish is fried.
• Serve hot with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.