Best 7 Deep Fried Whole Catfish Recipes

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When it comes to cooking a whole catfish, deep-frying is one of the most popular and delicious methods. This cooking technique results in a crispy outer layer and tender, flaky meat on the inside. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this article will guide you through the process of creating a mouthwatering deep-fried whole catfish dish. We will delve into the essential steps, the ingredients needed, and some helpful tips to ensure a perfect cooking experience. So, gather your ingredients, heat up your oil, and let's embark on a culinary journey to create a delectable deep-fried whole catfish dish that will tantalize your taste buds.

Let's cook with our recipes!

DEEP FRIED CATFISH



Deep Fried Catfish image

Make and share this Deep Fried Catfish recipe from Food.com.

Provided by MizzNezz

Categories     Catfish

Time 15m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 lbs catfish meat
oil (for deep frying)

Steps:

  • Mix dry ingredients.
  • Heat oil to 365F degrees.
  • Dip fish in milk, then in flour mixture.
  • Fry a few at a time, turning once, about 2 minutes each side.
  • Drain on paper towels.

PAN FRIED CATFISH



Pan Fried Catfish image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 (8-ounce) catfish fillets
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Lemon wedges, for garnish

Steps:

  • Rinse the fillets and pat them dry with paper towels. Mix the cornmeal, flour, salt, creole seasoning, paprika, and pepper together in a shallow dish. Pour the milk into a second shallow dish. Dip the fillets into the milk and then into the cornmeal mixture, coating them well and shaking of any excess.
  • Heat 1/2 the butter in a large skillet over high heat, and fry 2 of the fillets for about 3 minutes on each side, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
  • Transfer the fillets to a serving platter and keep warm. Repeat with remaining butter and fillets. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon wedges.

BIG DADDY'S DEEP-FRIED CATFISH



Big Daddy's Deep-Fried Catfish image

Provided by Aaron McCargo Jr.

Categories     main-dish

Time 23m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (12-ounce) bottle amber beer
4 (6-ounce) catfish fillets
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons granulated garlic
1 lemon, juiced

Steps:

  • Preheat a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and cayenne and whisk to combine. Whisk in the beer, being sure to remove any lumps.
  • Cut the catfish fillets in half lengthwise to make 2 strips. If desired, cut into bite-sized pieces. In a small bowl add the salt, pepper and granulated garlic. Season the fillets with some of the salt mixture. Reserve the remaining salt mixture for another use.
  • Dip each strip in the beer batter and add to the fryer, a few at a time, moving them around so they don't stick. Fry until brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the fryer to a serving platter. Repeat with the remaining fillets and season the fish with lemon juice.

CLASSIC FRIED CATFISH



Classic Fried Catfish image

Make and share this Classic Fried Catfish recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Bev I Am

Categories     Catfish

Time 21m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, to taste
6 (4 ounce) farm-raised catfish fillets
1/4 teaspoon salt
vegetable oil

Steps:

  • COMBINE first 5 ingredients in a large shallow dish.
  • Sprinkle fish with 1/4 teaspoon salt; dredge in cornmeal mixture, coating evenly.
  • POUR oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a deep cast-iron skillet; heat to 350 degrees;.
  • Fry fish, in batches, 5 to 6 minutes or until golden; drain on paper towels.

DEEP-FRIED CATFISH



Deep-Fried Catfish image

Craig Claiborne was the food editor of the New York Times for 29 years, and he opened the world of global cooking to generations of readers who knew little about even Italian or French food. But underneath it, he always had an abiding appreciation for the classic food of his childhood home in Mississippi. This simple, reliable formula for fried catfish can be applied to other relatively firm white filets. Mr. Claiborne's love of corn oil reflects the era in which he cooked. Canola, sunflower or peanut oil will work as well.

Provided by The New York Times

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, main course

Time 20m

Yield 2 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 catfish fillets, about 1 pound
Fresh corn oil to cover
1/2 cup white cornmeal
Salt to taste, if desired
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Lemon halves
Tomato ketchup
Hush Puppies (see recipe)

Steps:

  • Heat the oil for deep frying.
  • Cut each fillet in half crosswise.
  • Combine the cornmeal, salt and pepper.
  • Dredge the fillets in the cornmeal. Pat to make the cornmeal adhere. Drop the fillets in the oil and cook five to 10 minutes or until crisp and brown. Serve with lemon halves, ketchup and hush puppies.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH



Southern Fried Catfish image

Fried catfish is a Southern tradition, along with buttermilk hush puppies and buttermilk coleslaw. Try these traditional foods together.

Provided by Mama Smith

Categories     Seafood     Fish     Catfish

Time 30m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cup buttermilk
½ cup water
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pound catfish fillets, cut in strips
1 ½ cups fine cornmeal
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay™
1 quart vegetable oil for deep frying

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1427.2 calories, Carbohydrate 131.6 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Fat 78.6 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 45.7 g, SaturatedFat 13.2 g, Sodium 799.9 mg, Sugar 5.9 g

OVEN-FRIED CATFISH



Oven-Fried Catfish image

This recipe is a great alternative to pan-fried catfish. A combination of cornmeal and a variety of spices gives this recipe a savory kick in less than 30 minutes.

Provided by Mrs. Hermes

Categories     Seafood     Fish     Catfish

Time 25m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 ½ pounds catfish fillets
½ cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon celery seed
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup skim milk
cooking spray

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 206.9 calories, Carbohydrate 11 g, Cholesterol 53.8 mg, Fat 9 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 19.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 458.5 mg, Sugar 1.4 g

Tips:

  • To ensure the catfish is cooked evenly, make sure the oil is at the correct temperature before frying. Use a thermometer to measure the oil temperature, and adjust the heat as needed.
  • To prevent the catfish from sticking to the pan, make sure the pan is well-seasoned. You can season the pan by rubbing it with a small amount of oil before heating it.
  • To get a crispy coating, make sure the catfish is coated in a thick layer of batter or breading. You can use a variety of different batters and breadings, such as cornmeal, flour, or breadcrumbs.
  • To prevent the catfish from getting soggy, make sure to drain it on paper towels after frying. This will help to remove any excess oil.
  • Serve the catfish immediately with your favorite dipping sauce. Some popular dipping sauces for catfish include tartar sauce, remoulade, and cocktail sauce.

Conclusion:

Deep-fried whole catfish is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With its crispy coating and tender, flaky flesh, catfish is a surefire crowd-pleaser. Whether you are frying catfish for a family dinner or a special event, these tips will help you create a delicious and memorable meal.

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