Restaurant Quality Fried Catfish Recipes

RESTAURANT-STYLE FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Place the catfish fillets in a single layer in a shallow dish (you may slice the fillets in half lengthwise if desired or leave whole).
• Cover the fillets completely with milk.
• Cover and chill for about 1-1/2 hours.
• In a shallow bowl combine the cornmeal with seasoned salt, black pepper, cayenne, onion powder and garlic powder.
• Remove the catfish from refrigerator and allow to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• Remove all the milk from the pan and allowing all the milk to drip off the fillets.
• Sprinkle the fillets very lightly with salt (using about 1 teaspoon for all of the fillets).
• Coat lightly with cornmeal mixture.
• Pour the oil to a depth of about 1-1/2 inches in a cast-iron or heavy skillet.
• Heat oil to 350°F.
• Fry the fish in batches about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden.
• Drain on wire racks over paper towels.
• Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

RESTAURANT-QUALITY FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Pat fillets with paper towel
• Place fish in a large baking dish or plastic storage bag, pour in buttermilk; coat well; allow to sit for 10-minutes in refrigerator
• Meanwhile, make tartar sauce; After the tartar sauce is made, coat and cook the fish
• In a large bowl, add cornmeal, salt, pepper and cayenne; stir with fork till blended
• Using a cast-iron, or heavy bottom skillet, pour oil into skillet and heat to medium;
• While oil is heating, take a fillet directly from the buttermilk and place it in the cornmeal; pat the cornmeal on the fillet; coat it all over, twice; repeat with remaining fillets
• Check your skillet; the oil needs to be around 312 - 350ºF; you can sprinkle a few pieces of cornmeal in the oil to see if it sizzles; if it does sizzle, the oil is ready
• Cooking in batches of two fillets, place them in the hot oil; DO NOT MOVE THE FILLETS until they've cooked for 2 1/2 - 3 minutes on one side
• After 2 1/2 -3 minutes, use tongs and flip the fish over and cook for an additional 3 minutes
• Use a thermometer to measure internal temperature; it should be 145ºF
• Remove fillets from oil and place on a paper towel
• Repeat until all fillets are cooked and drained
• Plate fillets and serve with lemon and tartar sauce
• In a small bowl, combine all ingredients; refrigerate until ready to serve