Toms Deep Fried Bass Recipes

FRIED BASS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk eggs and water together in a bowl; set the egg wash aside.
• Sprinkle the bass fillets on both sides with Cajun seasoning and lemon pepper. Dredge the fillets in flour, and shake off any excess. Dip the fillets in the egg wash, then dip fillets in the crushed potato chips.
• Fry the fish in the preheated skillet until lightly browned, about 4 minutes per side. Serve with lemon wedges.

DEEP FRIED SEA BASS

Steps:

• Into a deep-fryer, preheat frying oil to 375°F [190°C].
• Into a bowl, mix together flour, salt, both peppers, Essence, and baking powder.
• Coat fish fillets with mixture, reserving remaining mixture.
• Lightly beat eggs; beat in milk and oil.
• Mix in remaining reserved flour mixture; beat until smooth.
• Dip fish into mixture.
• Deep-fry fish fillets until crunchy and golden brown.
• Drain onto paper toweling.

FRESH FRIED LARGEMOUTH BASS

Steps:

• Place bass in a bowl. Add salt and cover with water. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes to draw out all blood. Rinse bass thoroughly to remove salt. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place cornmeal, flour, seasoned salt, paprika, and pepper in a gallon-sized plastic bag. Zip and shake until evenly combined.
• Drop 2 pieces of bass into the bag, zip, and shake to coat. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining bass.
• Fry bass in the preheated deep fryer for 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately.

TOM'S DEEP FRIED BASS

Steps:

• Set up your deep fryer, as per your instructions on the deep fryer. I set mine out side on a special table or in the garage..not in the house. Fill with your oil of choice and set temperature as per instructions. Mine does not take long to get to right temperature..375 degrees
• Mix your batter: combine the pancake mix, lemon pepper, beer (opt) and water..Mix. The batter should be on the runny side, not thick. Just to thinly coat fish. Put Panko into a seperate pan. And next: Have a cake rack set over paper towels. (to set the fish on) Dip fish (I put a few pieces in the batter)in the bowl of mixed batter. Let batter run off a little bit and then coat with Panko, both sides. Set the Panko, dipped fish, on the cake rack to rest and dip the next piece..Only do one at a time.
• Put the fish into the basket of the deep fryer, do not crowd. Lower basket into oil and deep fry till crip and brown...approx 4 to 5 minutes depending on your fryer. Remove to a cookie sheet, lined with a paper towel (set in warm oven to hold for next batch) Every one around here, just starts eating them as soon as they come out of the fryer.
• Serve with a homemade (or store bought) tarter sauce and slices of lemon.

GARY'S FRIED FRESH BASS

Steps:

• Place cleaned & deboned bass fillets (preferably small-mouth bass - but works with large-mouth & bluegill fillets too -- ) in a large zip-lock bag.
• Cover with milk and seal bag. Refrigerate overnight.
• Next day, dry fillets on paper towels. Season both sides with Paprika, salt & pepper (to taste).
• Coat each fillet with Wondra Flour.
• Meanwhile, preheat Crisco in iron skillet on medium-high heat.
• Fry fillets in 1/2" of melted & hot Crisco on medium-high heat. For about 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels when done.

PAN-FRIED STRIPED BASS WITH LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce, whisk together: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
• Taste for salt and lemon juice and adjust as desired. The sauce will separate as it sits; this is not a problem.
• Season: 4 pieces striped bass, skin on (4 to 6 ounces each) with: Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
• Choose a heavy-bottomed pan for frying the fish. Take another, slightly smaller pan that will fit into the pan for the fish, and wrap its bottom with foil. This pan will be used as a weight to hold the fish flat against the frying pan to ensure that all of the skin will cook and crisp. (You will see the fish contract when it goes into the hot pan, as the skin shrinks on contact with the heat.) Warm the larger pan over medium-high heat. When hot, pour in: Olive oil, enough to generously coat the bottom.
• Add the pieces of bass, skin side down, and place the foil-wrapped pan on top of the fish. Cook until the skin is brown and crispy, about 7 minutes. Check now and then to see that the fish is indeed browning, but not overbrowning. Adjust the heat up or down to speed up or slow down the cooking as needed. When the skin is browned, remove the top pan and turn the fish. Cook for another minute or so, until the fish is just cooked through, but is still moist and tender inside. Meanwhile whisk the lemon sauce together again and pour it onto a warm plate. Serve the fish skin side up, on top of the sauce.
• Garnish the fish with a couple spoonfuls of chopped tender herbs such as parsley, chives, chervil, cilantro, or basil.
• Soak, rinse, and squeeze dry a tablespoon or so of capers. When the fish is cooked add the capers to the hot pan and sauté for a minute or two. Remove with a slotted spoon and scatter over the fish.
• Make a Beurre Blanc (Warm Butter Sauce; page 228) instead of the olive oil sauce.