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Catfish: Friday Fish Fry + Hush-Us-Up Hushpuppies

Source of Recipe

From "Southern Living: A Southern Gentleman's Kitchen"


Recipe Introduction

"Friday fish fries are a common practice throughout the South, due mainly in part to Catholic tradition. This 'event' brings folks together to share in the crispy, tender deliciousness of freshly fried fish. Always better when caught and fileted by your own hands, there's also plenty of great farm-raised catfish that's raised in the great state of Mississippi. When I can't catch my own, I buy from Southern fisheries. Like most of my recipes, I like to add a little spice and heat to my fried catfish with my own special seasoning blend. I can't believe I'm giving away my secret recipe! Anyways, follow my instructions, invite over your friends, and put on a soundtrack of Luke Bryan."

List of Ingredients

Fried Fish:
◦  Peanut oil, for frying
◦  2 cups yellow cornmeal
◦  ½ cup all-purpose flour
◦  1 tablespoon kosher salt
◦  1 teaspoon garlic powder
◦  1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
◦  1 teaspoon smoked paprika
◦  8 fresh catfish fillets, rinsed under cold running water
◦  Creole blend seasoning

Hushpuppies:
◦  ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
◦  ¾ cup all-purpose flour
◦  1½ teaspoons kosher salt
◦  1½ teaspoons baking powder
◦  1 tablespoon sugar
◦  2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
◦  1 large egg
◦  ¾ cup light beer


Recipe

Preheat oven to 275° F. Place a wire rack-lined baking sheet into oven. Place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat; add oil to depth of 2 inches. Heat oil to 350° F.

Combine next six ingredients in a large shallow bowl and mix well. Cut fish fillets into 2-inch strips. Dredge fillets in flour mixture until completely covered, shaking off excess. Carefully place the strips into hot oil; do not overcrowd. Fry fish, in batches, 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until they float and are golden brown. Transfer to wire rack-lined baking sheet, and keep warm in a 275° F oven. Reserve oil for frying hushpuppies. Prior to serving, season fillets to taste with Creole blend seasoning.

For hushpuppies, combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Using a tablespoon, scoop mixture into small balls and drop batter into hot oil; do not overcrowd. Fry the hushpuppies, in batches, turning occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with fried fish.


Serves 20