Description
Southern Fried Catfish sizzles with golden, crispy goodness that brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen. Grab your cast-iron skillet and get ready to savor a classic Southern delicacy that’ll make your taste buds dance with pure Southern charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 catfish fillets
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Serving Ingredients:
- Vegetable oil
- Lemon wedges
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Rinse 4 catfish fillets under cold water. Pat completely dry using paper towels.
- Submerge fillets in 1 cup buttermilk. Allow to soak for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Mix 1 cup cornmeal, ½ cup flour, 1 teaspoon each of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ½ teaspoon cayenne in a large bowl. Combine thoroughly.
- Lift each fillet from buttermilk, letting excess liquid drip back into dish. Coat completely in seasoned cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to ensure even coverage.
- Place breaded fillets on a clean plate. Let them rest for 10-15 minutes to help coating adhere.
- Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet, filling about ½ inch deep. Heat to 350F over medium-high heat.
- Carefully slide fillets into hot oil. Fry for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145F.
- Transfer fish using a slotted spatula onto paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Arrange crispy fillets on serving platter. Garnish with fresh lemon wedges.
- Serve immediately with hot sauce and traditional Southern sides like coleslaw or cornbread.
Notes
- Always brine catfish in buttermilk to tenderize the meat and remove any muddy flavor before frying.
- Let coated fillets rest for 10-15 minutes before frying to help the breading stick better and create a crispier crust.
- Use a thermometer to check oil temperature, ensuring it stays around 350F for perfect golden-brown crispiness without burning.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace wheat flour with cornmeal or gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same seasoning ratios.
- Prep Time: 45-50 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg