Herbs Fried Catfish Recipes

OVEN-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.
• In a shallow dish, stir together the cornmeal, paprika, thyme, salt, celery seed, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Dip the catfish fillets in milk, then place them into the cornmeal mixture and coat liberally; place on the greased baking sheet. Coat the tops of the fillets with cooking spray until wet.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix buttermilk, water, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture into a flat pan large enough to hold the fillets. Spread fish in one layer over bottom of pan, turning to coat each side, and set aside to marinate.
• In a 2 gallon resealable plastic bag, combine the cornmeal, flour, and seafood seasoning. Add fish to mixture, a few fillets at a time, and tumble gently to coat evenly.
• Heat oil in deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
• Deep fry fillets until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Avoid overcrowding so fillets have room to brown properly. Fish should be slightly crisp outside, and moist and flaky inside. Drain on paper towels.

BAKED HERB CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine the first seven ingredients; sprinkle over fillets on both sides. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine the lemon juice, butter and garlic; drizzle over fillets., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

HERB'S FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, prepare a salt-water brine by combining 3 tablespoons salt with 2 quarts water. Add the fish and more water if needed to just cover the fish. Soak the fish in the brine for 30 minutes.
• Mix the cornmeal, cracker meal, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning in a 1-gallon plastic bag.
• In a large (3-gallon) catfish cooker or deep Dutch oven, heat the oil to 350°F. Preheat the oven to 150°F.
• Coat the fish by shaking a few pieces at a time in the plastic bag with the crumbs.
• Drop 8 to 10 of the coated fish fillets into the hot oil. Cook until the coating is light brown; the fillets will cook quickly, in less than 5 minutes. Pieces will float to the top of the oil when they're done. Drain the cooked fish on paper towels and keep warm in the oven while you fry additional batches. Let the oil return to 350°F before adding and cooking more fish.
• From Gwen
• Our family attended many fish fries held outdoors on the banks of Herb's pond in Jasper County, Georgia. His wife, Glenda, loves to fish, and she provided most of the fish.
• From Trisha
• You can make the hushpuppies in the same oil as the fish, but let it cool down to 250°F first.