Description
Southern fried catfish brings crispy, golden memories straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner plate. Perfectly seasoned cornmeal coating and tender fish make this Southern classic a crowd-pleasing comfort meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound catfish fillets
- 1 ½ cups fine cornmeal
- ½ cups all-purpose flour
Liquid Ingredients:
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup water
Seasonings and Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning
- 1 quart vegetable oil
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Whisk ½ cup buttermilk, ½ cup water, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until thoroughly combined. Submerge your 1-pound catfish strips completely in the marinade, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
- Combine 1 ½ cups cornmeal, ½ cup all-purpose flour, and 1 tsp seafood seasoning in a 2-gallon plastic bag. Shake the bag to distribute ingredients evenly. Add 3-4 fish strips at a time, gently tumbling to coat each piece with the seasoned breading.
- Pour 1 quart vegetable oil into a deep fryer or heavy pot. Heat oil to 360°F, carefully monitoring the temperature with a kitchen thermometer.
- Carefully lower breaded catfish strips into hot oil, working in small batches to prevent overcrowding. Fry each batch for 3 minutes, turning once, until the exterior becomes golden brown and crispy.
- Remove fried catfish with a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drip back into the fryer. Transfer fish to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and absorb additional oil. Season with extra salt if desired.
Notes
- Buttermilk marinade helps tenderize the fish and adds a tangy flavor that enhances the overall taste.
- Use a thermometer to ensure the oil stays at the correct temperature for perfectly crispy, golden-brown catfish.
- Shake off excess cornmeal mixture before frying to prevent clumpy coating and ensure an even, crisp exterior.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with rice flour or cornstarch to maintain the same crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 428 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg