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Catfish: Crunchy Catfish with Heavenly Hush Puppies

Source of Recipe


From "American Home Cooking"






List of Ingredients



• -- Hush Puppies --
  
• 3/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal
  
• 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
  
• 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
  
• 1/2 tsp freshly milled black pepper
  
• 1/2 cup milk
  
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
  
• 1/2 cup minced onion
  
• 2 Tbsp minced scallion greens or chives (optional)
  
• .
  
• -- Catfish --
  
• 1-1/2 cups stone-ground cornmeal
  
• 1/2 cup extra-fine stone ground cornmeal (sometimes called corn flour), preferably, or all-purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp seasoned salt
  
• 2 tsp onion powder
  
• 1 tsp freshly milled black pepper
  
• 1 tsp paprika
  
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  
• 2 lbs. catfish fillets, cut into 3- to 4-ounce sections
  
• Peanut oil (preferably) or other vegetable oil for deep-frying
  
• Hot pepper sauce, such as Texas Pete or Tabasco
  
• Lemon wedges
  






Instructions



1. Prepare the hush puppy batter first, first stirring together in a medium bowl the cornmeal, baking powder, salt and pepper. Add the milk and egg, and stir vigorously until combined. Mix in the onion and, if you wish, the scallion greens. The batter should be moderately thick in consistency.
   
   
2. Prepare the catfish coating, combining the cornmeals, salt, onion powder, pepper, paprika and cayenne on a plate or in a shallow dish.
   
   
3. Pour several inches of oil into a Dutch oven or heavy high-sided skillet and heat to 350° F.
   
   
4. Dunk the catfish in the cornmeal, coating all sides well. Add about 1/2 cup of the remaining cornmeal mixture to the hush-puppy batter, a couple of tablespoons at a time. Mix in only until the batter is thick enough to spoon and hold its shape. Discard the remaining cornmeal mixture. Roll the batter or spoon it into 1-inch balls. (Avoid making the hush puppies any larger, or they won't cook properly before becoming too brown.)
   
   
5. Fry the catfish in batches until deep golden brown and crusty outside with flaky interiors, 6 to 8 minutes. Fry the hush puppies along with the fish, or just afterward, for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring them around to cook evenly.
   
   Serve the catfish and the hush puppies immediately with hot pepper sauce and lemon wedges.
   
   Makes 4 to 6 servings.
   
   






Final Comments


"We like to accompany the 'cats and dogs' with black-eyed peas and coleslaw."