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Fishing season is here, and its one of my favorites! Fishing is my therapy. Getting out into nature, listening to birds and the water, while a cool breeze stirs up the hot summer air – almost nothing calms my spirit more.
Of course, I love reaping the benefits of fishing as well. Fresh fish can be spendy, but if I combine it with my favorite hobby then it seems almost free. Over the weekend I hit up a local pond and got my limit of catfish. I cleaned them there, then took them home and filleted them.
Fresh fish is so flaky, and the best way to serve up catfish – in my opinion – is deep fried! Served with your favorite hot sauce (or better yet, our Lemon Basil sauce), you just can’t go wrong!
Deep fried delicious flaky catfish! Serve with hot sauce and fried sides for the ultimate southern comfort food!
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh catfish fillets
- 2 cups buttermilk, separated
- 1 cup corn meal
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tsp powdered cayenne
- 3 tsp creole seasoning
Instructions
- Slice the catfish fillets into 1″ nugget like pieces.
- Place the nuggets into a zip top bag with 1 cup of buttermilk. Seal and marinate in fridge for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
- In a large bowl, combine corn meal, flour, cayenne and creole seasoning. In another bowl, pour in marinated fish and buttermilk along with 1 additional cup of buttermilk. Prepare a baking sheet, lining it with parchment paper.
- Remove fish one piece at a time, carefully shaking off excess buttermilk. Coat in breading mixture, making sure to coat entirely. Place pieces on the prepared baking sheet, layering with more parchment paper as needed.
- Place breaded fish in the freezer for at least 2 hours to freeze. (See Notes)
- Heat deep fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In batches of 5 – 6 pieces, deep fry the nuggets for about 5 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Serve hot.
Notes
To store frozen fish pieces, place pieces in airtight container and keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Prepare as stated above.
Want another Southern fried comfort food? Our Spicy Hush Puppies recipe is coming soon!
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