Description
Southern style fried fish brings crispy, golden memories straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner plate. Seasoned cornmeal coating and perfectly fried fillets deliver pure Southern comfort that’ll make your family cheer at the first delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds catfish fillets
- 1 cup buttermilk
Coating Ingredients:
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Submerge your catfish fillets completely in 1 cup buttermilk and refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance tenderness and flavor.
- Combine 1 cup cornmeal, ½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a shallow dish for coating.
- Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet, filling 1-2 inches deep, and heat to 375°F over medium-high heat.
- Remove each fillet from buttermilk, allowing excess liquid to drip off, then thoroughly coat in the cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to help seasoning adhere.
- Carefully lower coated fillets into hot oil, ensuring they do not overlap, and fry for 3-4 minutes on first side until edges turn golden brown.
- Gently flip fillets and cook opposite side for additional 3-4 minutes until entire fish reaches deep golden color and internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Transfer fried fish onto paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
- Plate your crispy fish immediately with fresh lemon wedges and preferred side dishes.
Notes
- Soaking the fish in buttermilk helps tenderize the meat and adds a subtle tangy flavor that enhances the overall taste.
- Use a heavy cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution and a perfectly crispy, golden-brown crust on your fish.
- Test the oil temperature by dropping a pinch of cornmeal mixture into the pan – if it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready for frying.
- For a gluten-free version, replace regular flour with rice flour or cornstarch, which will still give you a crispy coating.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-14 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg