Classic Fried Catfish
Fried fish are a Southern staple, and the same applies to fried catfish. Although you’ll catch a fisherman throwing back his fair share of caught catfish, if you have the time to scale a catfish into a flaky filet, this classic recipe is completely worth the effort. Spices like ground red pepper, garlic powder, and salt bring out the naturally salty flavors from the catfish in a deliciously spicy batter. A mixture of yellow cornmeal and flour provide the ultimate crispy crust on your fried catfish filets. This recipe is easy and delicious. What better way to celebrate a cooler full of fresh-caught catfish?
How to Make It
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°.
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° oven until ready to serve.
