Sesame Crusted Catfish With Geechee Peanut Sauce And Sauteed Okra Recipes

PROPER GEECHEE RICE

Steps:

• Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. In a heavy saucepan over high heat, combine the rice and water and cover with the lid ajar. Bring the water to a boil, shift the lid so that it covers the pan tightly, turn down the heat to very low, and cook for 20 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Never stir the rice during this time. Don't even uncover the pot to peek. Remove from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Your rice will be proper.

SESAME CRUSTED FISH

Steps:

• Marinate fish in the soy and sesame oil for 15 minutes.
• Drain and dust the fish in flour.
• Dip into the egg and then roll in the sesame seeds.
• Deep fry the pieces in 360 degree oil for 4 or 5 minutes. No longer -- the sesame seeds scorch easily and will be bitter.
• Make a simple dipping sauce with some soy sauce diluted with about a 50/50 ratio of water and some fresh grated ginger. Delicious!
• You may need to cook this in two batches so that the temperature of the oil doesn't plummet. The oil needs to maintain a constant 360 temperature if possible.

SESAME CRUSTED CATFISH WITH GEECHEE PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Grind 1/2 cup sesame seeds in spice grinder into a rough powder. Leave the other 1/2 cup whole. Combine the sesame powder, sesame seeds, cornmeal, and salt and pepper and place in a shallow bowl.
• Dredge catfish fillets in sesame-cornmeal mix and saute in hot peanut oil until golden brown. Remove catfish, keep warm. Empty skillet of oil and crusty cornmeal. Add new oil to hot pan and saute the fresh sliced okra until it becomes slightly brown, about 8 minutes.
• Place the geechee sauce on the plate and put catfish fillets on top of that. Add another ladle of geechee sauce and put Sauteed okra on top.
• Geechee Peanut Sauce: Sweat the peppers, celery, and onion in bacon fat until the onions are translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Add red wine and reduce by 1/3. Add tomato and stock. Whisk in roux and peanut butter. Check seasoning. Let simmer for 30 minutes.
• Brown Roux: Melt the butter in a saute pan. When the butter is melted, add the flour and stir to combine. Cook slowly over low heat, stirring constantly, until the roux gets dark brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Don't rush it or the roux could burn and become bitter tasting.

SESAME-CRUSTED FISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 deg. F.
• Heat oil in a nonstick pan.
• Brush fillets with the egg whites and season with salt and pepper.
• Coat thickly on one side only with the sesame seeds.
• Saute in oil, seed side down, until golden brown.
• Place seed side up on a cornmeal sprinkled baking pan and bake at 400 deg. until done - this will depend on the thickness of your fillets, probably will take about 5 minutes.
• Or, you can just turn over and panfry until done.
• Note1: Chef recommended grouper or red snapper; I've made this also with tilapia.
• Note2: Baking is really handy if you are making a larger quantity - that way you can finish all the fillets at the same time.

PECAN-CRUSTED CATFISH

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Combine wine, fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and garlic in small nonaluminum saucepan. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 8 minutes. Add cream. Boil until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in butter 1 tablespoon at a time. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Strain sauce into small bowl. Return sauce to pan.
• Meanwhile, prepare fish:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place flour on large plate. Whisk milk and egg in shallow bowl to blend. Sprinkle catfish fillets with salt and pepper. Lightly coat catfish fillets in flour. Dip into milk mixture. Coat 1 side of fish with pecans. Lightly coat second side with flour.
• Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 fish fillets to skillet, nut side down, and cook until nuts begin to brown, about 2 minutes. Turn fish over; cook 1 minute. Using metal spatula, transfer fish, nut side up, to rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining fish and 1/2 tablespoon oil. Bake until opaque in center, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer catfish fillets to plates. Serve catfish with sauce.

PECAN-CRUSTED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the mustard, milk and dill. Place pecans in another shallow bowl. Dip fillets in mustard mixture and then in pecans. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. , Bake at 425° until fish flakes easily with a fork, 10-12 minutes.

SEARED CATFISH CREOLE

Steps:

• Pat the catfish dry, and spread a layer of mustard over the surface. Place the cracked pepper onto a plate, and press the coated catfish into the pepper so it is well covered.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the catfish for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes with a fork.