Best 6 How To Deep Fry Catfish Recipes

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**Crispy and Succulent: A Culinary Journey into Deep-Fried Catfish Delights**

In the realm of Southern cuisine, few dishes evoke the essence of comfort and indulgence quite like deep-fried catfish. This classic delicacy, characterized by its golden-brown exterior and tender, flaky flesh, has captured the hearts of food enthusiasts for generations. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook seeking a taste of Southern charm, this comprehensive guide will take you on a culinary adventure, exploring various deep-fried catfish recipes that cater to every palate. From the traditional Southern-style catfish to innovative fusion creations, these recipes offer a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a journey where crispy and succulent catfish take center stage.

Let's cook with our recipes!

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH



Southern Fried Catfish image

Fried catfish is a Southern tradition, along with buttermilk hush puppies and buttermilk coleslaw. Try these traditional foods together.

Provided by Mama Smith

Categories     Seafood     Fish     Catfish

Time 30m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cup buttermilk
½ cup water
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pound catfish fillets, cut in strips
1 ½ cups fine cornmeal
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay™
1 quart vegetable oil for deep frying

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, mix buttermilk, water, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture into a flat pan large enough to hold the fillets. Spread fish in one layer over bottom of pan, turning to coat each side, and set aside to marinate.
  • In a 2 gallon resealable plastic bag, combine the cornmeal, flour, and seafood seasoning. Add fish to mixture, a few fillets at a time, and tumble gently to coat evenly.
  • Heat oil in deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
  • Deep fry fillets until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Avoid overcrowding so fillets have room to brown properly. Fish should be slightly crisp outside, and moist and flaky inside. Drain on paper towels.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1427.2 calories, Carbohydrate 131.6 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Fat 78.6 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 45.7 g, SaturatedFat 13.2 g, Sodium 799.9 mg, Sugar 5.9 g

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH



Southern Fried Catfish image

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 quart peanut oil
1 cup stone-ground fine cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 (7 to 9-ounce) US farm-raised catfish fillets, rinsed and thoroughly patted dry
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk

Steps:

  • Heat the peanut oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Adjust the heat to maintain the temperature.
  • Whisk the cornmeal and flour together in a shallow dish. Combine the seafood seasoning, kosher salt, paprika, and pepper in a small bowl. Season the catfish fillets evenly on both sides with the spice mixture. Pour the buttermilk into another shallow dish. Dip each fillet into the buttermilk, flip once to coat both sides, hold over the pan and allow the excess to drip off. Coat both sides of the fillets in the cornmeal mixture. Set the coated fillets on a cooling rack and let rest for 5 minutes.
  • Gently add the fillets, 2 at a time, to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the fried fillets to a cooling rack set over a newspaper-lined half sheet pan. Repeat method with remaining fillets. Arrange the catfish on a serving platter and serve immediately.

FRIED CATFISH



Fried Catfish image

Crispy fried catfish fillets coated in a seasoned cornmeal crust!

Provided by Hank Shaw

Categories     Dinner     Budget     Comfort Food     Quick and Easy     Fish     Southern

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

4-6 catfish fillets, about 1-2 pounds
1 cup milk or buttermilk
Salt
3/4 cup fine cornmeal (do not use coarsely ground cornmeal)
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
Oil for frying (use peanut oil if you can)

Steps:

  • Heat oil in pan, heat warming oven: In a heavy frying pan (I prefer to use cast iron), pour enough oil to come 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Heat the pan on medium-high. Heat your oven to 200°F and lay a cookie sheet inside. Place a wire rack on top of the cookie sheet.
  • Mix together cornmeal, flour, spices for dredging: Mix the cornmeal, flour and spices together. (Or you can substitute your favorite seasoning instead.) Place in a shallow dish for dredging.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 665 kcal, Carbohydrate 34 g, Cholesterol 146 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 45 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Sodium 439 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 38 g, ServingSize Serves 4, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

DEEP FRIED CATFISH



DEEP FRIED CATFISH image

WHENEVER WE HAVE A FISH FRY, WE COOK CATFISH BECAUSE IT'S A FAVORITE. EVERYBODY STUFF THEMSELVES WITH FRIED CATFISH AND FRIED MULLET AND SIDES THAT WE MAKE TO GO ALONG WITH THE FRIED FISH, EVERYONE JUST LOVES IT.....

Provided by Teresa Howell

Categories     Fish

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

3-4 medium catfish pieces per person
1 c white corn meal
1/3 c all purpose flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 medium eggs
1/4 c buttermilk
enough cooking oil to cover the fish - peanut oil

Steps:

  • 1. COMBINE ALL YOUR DRY INGREDIENTS. BEAT EGGS AND BUTTERMILK IN A MEDIUM SIZE BOWL. WASH CATFISH FILLETS AND PAT DRY.
  • 2. DIP FILLETS IN THE EGG WASH, SHAKE OFF EXCESS WASH, THEN ROLL IN THE CORNMEAL MIX TO COAT THOROUGHLY ON ALL SIDES. MAKE SURE OIL IS HOT, THEN PLACE FISH IN FRYING PAN AND FRY UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN ON BOTH SIDES.
  • 3. DRAIN ON PAPER TOWELS AND SREVE HOT.

FRIED CATFISH NUGGETS



Fried Catfish Nuggets image

Chunks of golden brown, crispy catfish! Serve with ketchup or tartar sauce.

Provided by rachel

Categories     Seafood     Fish     Catfish

Time 8h35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 pounds catfish fillets, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons dried thyme leaves
1 cup spicy brown mustard
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon baking soda

Steps:

  • Place the catfish pieces into a mixing bowl and sprinkle with thyme leaves. Toss until the catfish is evenly coated with the thyme. Mix in the mustard with your hands. Cover, and refrigerate overnight, up to 24 hours.
  • Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk the flour, salt, black pepper, and baking soda together in a mixing bowl.
  • Dip the catfish pieces one at a time into the flour mixture and shake off the excess. Fry the catfish nuggets in batches until they are no longer translucent in the center and are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Let the oil come back up to temperature between batches. Drain the nuggets on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 394.9 calories, Carbohydrate 26.3 g, Cholesterol 53.3 mg, Fat 21.9 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 22.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 898.3 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

DEEP FRIED CATFISH



Deep Fried Catfish image

Make and share this Deep Fried Catfish recipe from Food.com.

Provided by MizzNezz

Categories     Catfish

Time 15m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 lbs catfish meat
oil (for deep frying)

Steps:

  • Mix dry ingredients.
  • Heat oil to 365F degrees.
  • Dip fish in milk, then in flour mixture.
  • Fry a few at a time, turning once, about 2 minutes each side.
  • Drain on paper towels.

Tips and Conclusion

Deep-frying catfish is an easy and delicious way to enjoy this popular fish. Here are some tips for perfect catfish every time:

  • Choose the right catfish. Choose catfish fillets that are fresh, firm, and have no blemishes.
  • Cut the catfish into even-sized pieces. This will help them cook evenly.
  • Season the catfish. You can use a simple seasoning of salt and pepper, or you can get creative with your favorite herbs and spices.
  • Coat the catfish in a batter or breading. This will help the fish stay moist and tender while it fries.
  • Heat the oil to the correct temperature. The ideal temperature for deep-frying catfish is 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Fry the catfish in small batches. This will prevent the oil temperature from dropping too much.
  • Cook the catfish until it is golden brown and flaky. This will take about 3-4 minutes per side.
  • Drain the catfish on paper towels. This will help remove excess oil.
  • Serve the catfish immediately. Catfish is best when served hot and crispy.

In conclusion, deep-fried catfish is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With the right ingredients and a little practice, you can create perfect catfish every time. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give deep-fried catfish a try. You won't be disappointed!

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