Crispy Crunchy Fried Catfish

SERVES: 4 to 5

COOK TIME: 6 Min

If you’re looking for a way to satisfy your appetite for adventure, how about filling up your car and cruising The U.S. Catfish Trail throughout the South? There you can visit some of the best places in the country to get this farm-raised favorite. If you can’t take a road trip, why not try this easy recipe that’s both crowd pleasin’ and lip-smackingly good?

What You'll Need

3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon hot sauce
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup peanut oil
1 1/2 pound U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish fillets, cut in half lengthwise into strips

What to Do

In a shallow dish, combine buttermilk and hot sauce; mix well. In another shallow dish, whisk cornmeal, flour, seasoning salt, lemon pepper, and cayenne pepper
In a large cast iron skillet or large deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Dip fish in buttermilk mixture, then in cornmeal mixture, coating evenly on all sides. Cook fish strips a few at a time, 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until golden and fish flakes easily with a fork.
Drain on a wire rack placed on top of a baking sheet. This helps keep the fish crispy. Keep warm in a low oven until all catfish is cooked.

Check This Out!

For more tasty catfish recipes, make our Crazy-Good Catfish Tacos or our Buffalo Style Catfish Sliders.
Don't forget to make this for your fish dish; our Fish Fry Tartar Sauce is a must!
To have more fun with catfish, head on over to The Catfish Institute.