Stuffed Catfish Topped With Garlic Butter And Grilled Asparagus Spears And Sweet Potatoes Recipes

ASPARAGUS WITH GARLIC BUTTER AND PARMESAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pan of water to the boil, drop the asparagus in and cook for about 2 minutes or until just, just tender crisp. Plunge into iced water to stop them cooking, then drain.
• Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat, add the garlic and cook for a minute until fragrant.
• Season with salt and pepper, the add the asparagus to the pan, tossing and turning gently in the butter until hot.
• Divide amongst 4 plates, then sprinkle each serve with the cheese.
• We liked crusty bread to mop up the rest of the garlic butter, but it's up to you!

CATFISH WITH MUSHROOM AND SPINACH STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• To make the stuffing, in a large skillet heat butter and oil over medium heat.
• Add shallots and saute until softened, not brown, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add mushrooms and saute until tender and most liquid has evaporated, 5-8 minutes.
• Add wine and stir until almost all evaporated.
• Sprinkle mushrooms with flour and stir well to incorporate, 2-3 minutes.
• Raise heat to high, toss in the spinach and add cream to skillet cooking to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened.
• Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, cayenne, cashews and salt.
• Mix well, as the mixture will be somewhat thick, taste, and adjust salt if necessary, keeping in mind that if you are using salted cashews you may need less salt.
• Butter or spray a baking dish and divide stuffing into two separate mounds and top each with a catfish fillet.
• Sprinkle fillets with breadcrumbs if using, then drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake in upper third of oven for 15-20 minutes, until fish flakes easily around the edges.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

CRAWFISH ETOUFFEE, FRIED CATFISH, RICE, GRILLED ASPARAGUS AND CORNBREAD

Steps:

• For the crawfish etouffee: First, you make a roux. In a Dutch oven, add the butter over medium-high heat and melt. Add the flour and whisk until combined and there are no lumps in the flour. Continue to stir with a wooden spoon until the butter and flour mixture browns to the color of a shopping bag, 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure to stir continuously and do not allow the mixture to burn. If you notice little black specks, discard the roux and start over.
• Once the roux is sufficiently dark, add the garlic, celery, onion and bell pepper and stir. Cook for 5 minutes, then add the seafood stock and bring to a simmer. Add the parsley, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves and some cayenne, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. Add the crawfish tails and simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
• For the rice: Over medium-high heat, bring 2 cups of water to a boil with the salt. Add the rice and return to a boil with a lid. Reduce to a simmer, keep covered and simmer until the rice is fully cooked, about 20 minutes. Reserve for serving.
• For the cornbread: Put a 10- to 12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In another mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, creamed corn and eggs and whisk until the eggs are broken apart. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until everything is incorporated.
• Carefully remove the cast-iron skillet from the oven. Coat the inside with the canola oil, then pour the cornbread batter into the skillet. Place the skillet back in the oven and bake until the top is golden brown and the inside is cooked all the way through, about 20 minutes. Flip the cornbread upside-down onto a cutting board. Reserve for serving.
• For the fried catfish: In a shallow pan or baking dish, combine the cornmeal, cayenne, paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper and stir to evenly spread the spices throughout the cornmeal. Hit each side of each catfish fillet with a few drops of a Louisiana-style hot sauce and spread it around. Dredge the fillets in the cornmeal mixture, generously coating both sides with it.
• In a deep fryer with oil set to 375 degrees F (or a cast iron skillet with oil heated to 375 degrees F), fry the catfish in batches until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on a pan lined with paper towels.
• For the grilled asparagus: Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium heat.
• Cut the white woody ends off of the asparagus and discard. Put the asparagus in a shallow dish, drizzle with olive oil and toss with some salt and pepper. Grill for 3 to 5 minutes, then flip the asparagus to grill the other side for another 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and toss with the lemon juice.

GRILLED OR OVEN ROASTED BELL PEPPERS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Fire up the grill or preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Make butter sauce (or olive oil) by mixing melted butter with red pepper flakes, dried minced onions, and minced garlic.
• Line a cookie sheet with foil.
• Trim asparagus and cut off hard ends.
• Arrange asparagus spears and sliced bell peppers on foil lined cookie sheet.
• Coat vegetables with salt and fresh ground black pepper.
• Dirzzle butter sauce over vegetables. Toss to coat evenly.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until asparagus is just tender, but still crisp.

CRAB-STUFFED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Cut each fillet in half widthwise; place two halves in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Press crab mixture onto fillets; top with remaining halves. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 22-26 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

BAKED HERB CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine the first seven ingredients; sprinkle over fillets on both sides. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine the lemon juice, butter and garlic; drizzle over fillets., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.