Crispy Cayenne Cocktail Catfish Recipes

CRISPY CAYENNE COCKTAIL CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine the catfish with the zest of one lime, the juice of both limes, the cayenne flakes, and the vermouth. Let marinate about 1 hour.
• Drain catfish well.
• Heat 1/2 an inch of oil, half olive and half canola, in a skillet on medium to medium high. (When ready a drop of water will sizzle but the oil won't be hot enough to smoke).
• Beat egg into milk in a shallow bowl.
• Combine 1/4 cup flour with salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine remaining dry ingredients in a plastic bag.
• Dip each piece of fish into the flour then into the egg/milk mixture. Shake in breading bag until well coated.
• Fry pieces in the hot oil until the first side is browned. Do not crowd the pieces in the pan. Turn and brown the other side. Repeat until all batches are done.
• Serve with hot sauce, additional cayenne pepper flakes, lime wedges, and lemon wedges available at the table.
• I suggest completing the meal with baked sweet potatoes and cole slaw.
• Note: Today's farm-raised catfish is almost never muddy-tasting, but if yours is wild-caught the lime and vermouth marinade will eliminate the problem.

RESTAURANT-STYLE FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Place the catfish fillets in a single layer in a shallow dish (you may slice the fillets in half lengthwise if desired or leave whole).
• Cover the fillets completely with milk.
• Cover and chill for about 1-1/2 hours.
• In a shallow bowl combine the cornmeal with seasoned salt, black pepper, cayenne, onion powder and garlic powder.
• Remove the catfish from refrigerator and allow to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• Remove all the milk from the pan and allowing all the milk to drip off the fillets.
• Sprinkle the fillets very lightly with salt (using about 1 teaspoon for all of the fillets).
• Coat lightly with cornmeal mixture.
• Pour the oil to a depth of about 1-1/2 inches in a cast-iron or heavy skillet.
• Heat oil to 350°F.
• Fry the fish in batches about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden.
• Drain on wire racks over paper towels.
• Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

CRISPY BUFFALO STYLE CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine cornmeal, flour, ground chili powder, cayenne to taste, garlic powder, salt, and pepper on a shallow dish.
• Coat each fillet in the beaten egg, then dredge in the cornmeal mixture.
• Place breaded fillets in a single layer on a plate, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set breading.
• In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 Tbsp of the butter together with the oil.
• Take chilled fillets from refrigerator and brown them until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes per side.
• Transfer cooked fish to serving plates.
• Over low heat, heat remaining butter in the same pan you cooked the fish in; sauté the minced onion and minced garlic clove for 3 minutes, then stir in the hot pepper sauce, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to get up the cooked bits.
• Divide the sauce between the 4 servings and drizzle over the fillets.
• Serve fillets immediately with good blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

BAKED CRISPY CATFISH

Steps:

• . * Preheat oven to 425°F Coat a large nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.
• * In a shallow soup bowl, combine cornmeal, paprika, thyme, salt, celery seeds, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper. Pour milk into another shallow soup bowl.
• * Dredge fillets first in milk and then in cornmeal mixture, coating both sides and pressing cornmeal mixture gently to adhere. Place coated fillets on baking sheet and lightly spray each with cooking spray.
• * Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Let stand at room temperature 2 minutes before serving with asparagus and lemon wedges. Yields 1 fillet and 1/4 of asparagus per serving.