Brazos River Catfish Stew Recipes

BRAZOS RIVER STEW

Steps:

• Fry bacon in a Dutch oven or large stew pot.
• Remove bacon and drain on paper towel.
• Add stew meat to pan and sear.
• Lower heat and add tomatoes, beef broth, water celery, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and chili powder.
• Cover and simmer 2 hours.
• Remove 1/4 cup broth from stew, cool, and mix with flour.
• Add flour mixture to stew.
• Salt and pepper as needed.
• Add carrots and potatoes and cook 30 minutes.
• Add corn and bacon; cook another 5 minutes.

CATFISH STEW

Steps:

• In a large skillet, fry the bacon slices. Drain on absorbent paper, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Cut the catfish into bite-sized pieces.
• Remove all but a few tablespoons of bacon grease from the pan. Cook the fish and onions in the skillet until the onions are tender.
• Put the potatoes, tomatoes, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce in a large pot. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender.
• Add the catfish, onions, and bacon. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

SAVANNAH RIVER CATFISH STEW

Steps:

• Line a plate with paper towels; in a saucepan, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp, about 5 minutes; using slotted spoon, remove the bacon to prepared plate to drain.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease.
• Add in onion and potatoes to saucepan; cook/stir often, until golden, 5-7 minutes.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to coat and combine.
• Stir in the water and milk; add the thyme, bay leaf, and cajun seasoning; bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes.
• Add in the catfish; simmer, uncovered, until the fish is falling apart, an additional 15-20 minutes.
• Remove the thyme and bay leaf; discard.
• Add in the parsley; stir to combine.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning.
• Ladle into warm bowls and garnish with reserved bacon.

WHITE CATFISH STEW

Steps:

• Cut catfish into thumbnail-size squares.
• Salt and pepper pieces pretty heavily and put into refrigerator until time to use.
• Peel the boiled eggs and chop into small pieces.
• Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes and cover with water until ready to use.
• Peel onions and slice into rings.
• Fry fatback crisp.
• Put pieces aside and pour drippings into a large pot.
• Bring fatback drippings to a medium heat, add onions and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally; remove onions to a bowl.
• Put about 4 or 5 cups of water in the pot, bring to a boil, put the potatoes in the pot.
• You might have to add more fresh water to barely cover the potatoes.
• Cook about 15 or 20 minutes;I crumble up the fried fatback and put it in with the potatoes, but you don't have to.
• Put the onions back in the pot with the potatoes and bring to almost a boil, throw in a handful of fish, stir a little, throw in some more fish, stir a little more, do this until you use all the fish.
• I use a long skinny spoon so the fish won't get all mashed up; I like chunks of fish in the stew.
• Add the boiled eggs and stir.
• Cook on medium for about 6 minutes.
• Stir a couple of times to be sure the potatoes aren't sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Taste.
• Add more salt, pepper, and hot sauce if needed.
• Enjoy!