Cascade Style Hot Jalapeno Catfish Recipes

SWEET ONION AND CATFISH HUSH PUPPIES WITH COMEBACK SAUCE

Steps:

• For the comeback sauce: Combine mayonnaise, sambal, ketchup, lemon juice, hot sauce, smoked paprika, Worcestershire, garlic powder, mustard, salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth and everything is well incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• For the whipped sorghum butter: Add the butter, molasses and salt to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or to a medium bowl if you're using a hand mixer or whisk. Mix on medium speed until well-combined and the butter is lightened and fluffy.
• For the catfish: Combine the catfish with salt and sugar in a bowl. Refrigerate.
• For the hush puppies: Combine cornmeal with sugar, salt, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper and cayenne in a medium bowl. Whisk thoroughly to combine these dry ingredients. Whisk together the buttermilk and egg in a separate bowl until there are no specks of egg and it becomes a smooth and homogenous mixture.
• Retrieve the quick-cured catfish from the fridge, and add the catfish and diced onion to the dry ingredient mixture. Quickly stir together to coat the onion and catfish bits with cornmeal and spices. Add the buttermilk and egg and mix quickly with a spatula or wooden spoon until everything is well combined and the batter stiffens up pretty quickly as the cornmeal soaks up the buttermilk. Cover your batter and refrigerate for a few minutes while you prepare your pot for frying.
• Add vegetable oil to a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven no larger than 8 inches across-it's necessary for deep frying to have at least 2 inches of oil. Heat the oil over medium heat, bringing it up to 350 degrees F, using a thermometer to check the temperature. (If you don't have a thermometer, you can tell that the oil is ready when you add a small pinch of flour and it immediately sizzles and fries. You can fry without a thermometer if you're feeling bold, but just be careful that your oil doesn't get too hot or cold-you could either burn your hush puppies or end up with greasy ones-and no one wants that!)
• Once the oil is up to 350 degrees F, pull your batter from the fridge and begin to scoop it into the hot oil. We like to use a 3/4-ounce cookie scoop, but you could also use two spoons to scoop and drop roughly tablespoon-sized dollops into the hot oil. Fry as many hush puppies as comfortably fit into the pot at once-they should definitely have some room to expand and get crispy. It's okay to fry in several batches.
• Fry the hush puppies for 2 minutes, then turn them over and fry until golden brown and fluffy on the inside, another 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider, moving them to a plate or tray lined with paper towels to help drain any excess oil. Sprinkle the hush puppies with a little salt while they're still hot. Repeat this process until all your hush puppies are cooked and seasoned.
• Pile the hushpuppies into a dish for serving and garnish with a nice sprinkle of the chives. Serve them nice and hot with 1 cup comeback sauce and 1/4 cup whipped sorghum butter, or your favorite sauces.

COUNTRY FRIED CHESAPEAKE CATFISH WITH JALAPEñO-MINT AIOLI

Steps:

• Make the aioli: Heat a small sauté pan over high heat. Add the butter and olive oil to the pan and immediately add the jalapeños and 4 of the garlic cloves. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until the jalapeños are nicely charred. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a food processor and add the remaining garlic clove, lemon juice and mayonnaise. Pulse until combined. (Don't worry if it isn't smooth.) Scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl, add the mint and season with salt and pepper. Pulse until well combined and chill. You can use it right away, but it will get better after a few hours.
• Prepare the catfish: In a shallow casserole dish, mix the flour, cornmeal, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Pour the buttermilk into a separate casserole dish.
• Pat catfish fillets dry, and using a very sharp chef's knife, slice them horizontally into 2 thinner fillets, about 1/2-inch thick.
• Pour the oil into a 12- to 14-inch skillet, preferably cast iron, and heat over medium heat until the oil is hot but not smoking. While it is heating, dip the catfish into the buttermilk, then lift out and shake off the excess liquid. Transfer the catfish sheets onto the dredge and press firmly on both sides.
• To test the oil, add a small piece of fish to the pan; if it bubbles immediately, the oil is ready. After dredging each fillet, add it to the pan, cooking as many as will comfortable fit into the pan at one time. Cook for about 4 minutes until the edges are golden brown, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes or until cooked through. Immediately transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat with remaining catfish.
• Transfer 2 catfish pieces to each plate and top each piece with the jalapeño-mint aioli. Serve immediately with lemon on the side.

CASCADE STYLE HOT JALAPENO CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Rinse the fish under running water, then pat dry with paper towels.
• Mix together the crushed potato chips, black pepper (to taste), garlic powder, paprika or ancho, and flour, stirring well; pour onto a shallow plate.
• Mix together the egg and milk; pour onto a shallow plate.
• Lightly oil a large baking pan (one large enough so that none of the fillets will touch).
• Dredge and coat a fillet with the egg mixture, then dredge in the potato chip mixture so that the fillet has a thick crust; place fillet in baking dish and repeat with other fillets.
• Bake uncovered at 375 for 30 to 35 minutes, serve immediately, and enjoy!
• My husband likes salsa on his, but I eat mine just as it is... yum!
• Tim's potato chips: http://www.agrilinkfoods.com/tims/.

CATFISH FILLETS WITH JALAPENO TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Begin heating 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat in a deep, heavy pot to 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile, combine beer, mustard, 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper in a small shallow bowl; mix well.
• Put the cornmeal in another shallow bowl.
• Dip the fish into the cornmeal and coat, then dip it into the beer mixture.
• Add to the hot oil, one piece at time, cooking in batches if necessary. Do not crowd the pan.
• Fry until crispy and golden brown.
• To Make the jalapeno tartar sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients and mix.
• Chill until ready to serve with the catfish.

NASHVILLE-STYLE HOT CATFISH

Steps:

• 1. Whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce in a large bowl. Add catfish. Cover and chill 24 hours.
• 2. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients. Remove catfish from buttermilk mixture, discarding mixture. Dredge catfish in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• 3. Pour oil to depth of 1 1/2 inches into a large, deep skillet; heat to 325°. Fry catfish, in batches, 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and fish flakes with a fork. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Serve with additional hot sauce, if desired.