Tennessee Fried Catfish Recipes

CLASSIC FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce.
• Place catfish in a single layer in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish; pour buttermilk mixture over fish. Cover and chill 8 hours, turning once.
• Combine cornmeal and next 6 ingredients in a shallow dish.
• Let fish stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Remove from buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge fish in cornmeal mixture, shaking off excess.
• Pour oil to depth of 2 inches into a large, deep cast-iron or heavy-duty skillet; heat to 360°F.
• Fry fish, in batches, 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack on a paper towel-lined jelly-roll pan. Keep warm in a 225°F oven until ready to serve.

TENNESSEE FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• If catfish are frozen, thaw them in a bowl of milk.
• When thawed pat dry and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour cornmeal into a paper bag and drop the catfish one piece at a time into the bag. Shake the bag to completely coat the catfish.
• Fry in a deep frying pan until golden brown.
• Drain well and serve hot.

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.

NEELY'S MEMPHIS-STYLE CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F.
• Mix the cornmeal, paprika and cayenne in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, add the buttermilk and the hot sauce.
• Season the catfish with salt and pepper. Dredge in the buttermilk and then the cornmeal and spice mixture.
• Drop carefully in the hot oil. Fry for 4 minutes until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with Remoulade Sauce.
• Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl.

TENNESSEE FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• 1. Sprinkle both sides of fish with salt and pepper.
• 2. Beat eggs slightly and blend in the milk.
• 3. Dip fish in the eggs and roll in cornmeal.
• 4. Place fish in a heavy fry pan which contains about 1/8 inch melted fat, hot but not smoking. Fry at a moderate heat. When fish is brown on one side, turn carefully and brown the other side. Cooking time is about 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.
• 5. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve immediately on a hot platter, plain or with a sauce.