Best 14 Spicy Catfish Recipes

SPICY CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CATFISH

Steps:

• On a baking sheet, mix together cornmeal, paprika, cumin, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Dredge fish in cornmeal mixture, turning to coat both sides.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat. Place 2 catfish fillets in the skillet, skin side up. Cook until crust is browned and fish is firm, 6 to 8 minutes on each side. If crust is starting to turn too brown, reduce heat. Transfer fish to a plate; keep warm. Wipe out skillet with a paper towel. Repeat with remaining oil and fish.

BLACKENED CATFISH AND SPICY RICE

Steps:

• Bring the rice, water, Cajun seasoning, and hot pepper sauce to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While rice is cooking, mix thyme, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dill weed, and lemon pepper in a bowl until well blended. Brush catfish fillets with butter and sprinkle with seasoning mixture other both sides.
• Heat any remaining melted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; pan-fry seasoned catfish in butter until fish is easily flaked with a fork, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Serve catfish over a plate of seasoned rice. Pour leftover butter from the skillet over fish and sprinkle with lemon juice.

WILL'S SPICY NEW ORLEANS CATFISH FRIES

Steps:

• Lay catfish fillet horizontally on cutting board. Cut thin 1/4 inch wide strips from the filet at a 45 degree angle. This is easy if your knife is sharp, and the filet is partly frozen.
• Dust fish strips moderately with cayenne pepper, and gently tumble together to evenly coat all strips. They should look pink all over when you are through. On the Bayou, this is called a dry marinade. Place catfish strips on a plate or pan, and set aside for a few minutes to thaw.
• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Place enough corn flour to bread your catfish on a bowl or plate, and season with salt and black pepper.
• Place thawed catfish into seasoned corn flour, and tumble gently until all strips are evenly coated. Deep fry in hot oil for about 3 minutes, or until done. Fish should be golden brown, slightly crisp outside, and moist and flaky inside when done.

SPICY CATFISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir onions and carrots until onions are slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Melt butter with onions and carrots; cook and stir zucchini and garlic in the melted butter until onions are translucent, about 7 more minutes.
• Stir beer, seafood seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, chile-garlic sauce, sea salt, oregano, and black pepper into the vegetable mixture and gently lay catfish fillets over top of vegetables. Pour tomatoes with their juice over the vegetables and catfish. Cover pot and bring to a simmer; cook until catfish are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Break the catfish fillets apart into bite-size chunks.
• Pour in a tomato can of water and stir in corn; simmer the chowder covered until vegetables are tender and flavors have blended, at least 30 more minutes.

SPICY GRILLED CATFISH

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or preheat the broiler.
• Mix olive oil, lime juice, wine, mustard, chili powder, pepper, cilantro and salt in a medium bowl.
• Transfer half of the marinade mixture to another bowl and reserve for basting catfish.
• Add catfish to the first bowl; marinate for 15 minutes.
• Drain fillets and discard marinade.
• Place fillets on an oiled grill rack or broiler pan rack.
• Grill or broil 4 inches from the heat source, basting with reserved marinade, for about 3 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

SPICY CATFISH WITH BELL PEPPERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper. Dust lightly with flour. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish to skillet. Cook until golden brown and just opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer fish to plates. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil, onion and bell peppers to same skillet. Sauté until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add vinegar and jalapeño. Stir 1 minute. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Spoon over fish.

SPICY OVEN-BAKED CATFISH

Steps:

• For the fish; wash the fish fillets under cold water, then pat dry with paper towels.
• In a shallow bowl mix together the dry breadcrumbs with seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
• In a bowl whisk or beat egg whites until foamy.
• Dip the fillets into egg whites, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Place the fillets in one layer onto a well-greased wire rack that is set on a large baking sheet.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until fish is golden brown (do not overbake).
• LEMON CREAM SAUCE; in a bowl mix together one 8-ounce container of sour cream (low-fat is okay) 1-2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind, 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and chill until ready to serve.

SPICY CATFISH WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Sprinkle fish with salt, pepper and cayenne. In a nonstick skillet, cook fish over medium for about 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Top with tomatoes and sprinkle with green onions. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for about 2 minutes. , Cover skillet and simmer 2-3 minutes longer or until liquid is reduced and fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with rice if desired.

SPICY CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CATFISH

Steps:

• Place fillets in a single layer in a shallow glass dish, Pour milk over the fish; cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare Tangy Tartar Sauce: Whisk mayonnaise, yogurt and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Keep refrigerated.
• Makes 1/2 cup.
• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Combine cornmeal, parsley, garlic and cayenne to taste in a shallow dish.
• Remove the fish from the milk, sprinkle both side with salt and dredge in the cornmeal mixture.
• Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Place the fish on baking sheet and lightly coat the fish with cooking spray.
• Bake until the fish is firm to the touch and opaque in the center, 10-15 minutes.
• Serve immediately with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
• Makes 4 servings.

CAJUN-STYLE FILLET OF CATFISH WITH SPICY BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Rinse fillets and ry well.
• Season each fillet with a mixture of salt, lemon pepper and cayenne.
• Rub oil in a 9x13" glass baking dish.
• Place fillets in prepared baking dish and top fillets with 4 Tablespoons of the melted butter.
• Sprinkle with fresh bread crumbs and 2 Tablespoons of the fresh lemon juice.
• Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 18 minutes, just until fish flakes easily.
• Do not overcook.
• Butter Sauce: Combine all remaining butter and lemon juice with other sauce ingredients, except parsley and lemon slices for garnish.
• Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Place fillets on serving dish, top with butter sauce and garnish with parsley and lemon slices.

SPICY CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine garlic, salt, black and red peppers, paprika and oil in a small bowl. Press pepper mixture onto catfish.
• Place fillets in a baking pan and broil until opaque in the center, 6 to 8 minutes.

JIM'S MILD SPICY CATFISH

Steps:

• Mix cornmeal, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper on a plate.
• Beat milk and eggs together in a bowl. Dip catfish fillets in milk mixture, then gently press fillets into cornmeal mixture, coating both sides. Shake off excess breading.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet; pan-fry catfish in hot oil until the fish is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork, about 4 minutes per side.

CATFISH WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE AND PECANS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°.
• Combine tomatoes, onions, garlic, pecans, cilantro, olive oil, red pepper flakes, lime juice, zest, salt and pepper (to taste) in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Place fillets in a greased baking dish; season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper (to taste); pour tomato mixture over fish and bake until fish begins to flake, about 20 minutes.
• Serve with the lime wedges.

PAN-FRIED CATFISH WITH SPICY PECAN GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Place the first seven ingredients in a food processor. Cover and process until chunky; set aside., Place buttermilk in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal and Cajun seasoning. Dip fish in buttermilk, then coat with cornmeal mixture., In a large skillet, cook fillets in oil in batches over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with gremolata.