Fixing catfish- any ideas?

I have some catfish fillets thawing. I'm not the best cook when it comes to fixing fish. anyone have any good ideas or recipes? Yes, this is a well rounded board! You just never know what you'll find here next!

Red

I've tried many different things but what my family likes the best...  Go to Orscheln and get their cornmeal breading and fry in EVOO. 

Only one way to do it.  Let fillets dry on paper towels, salt and pepper to taste, roll in yellow corn meal fry in vegetable oil at 325 degrees.  When fillets float and meal is golden color remove to paper towel tray.  Here is a helpful hint, any red or grey colored flesh remove and this will eliminate the strong fishy flavor.

ditto on the corn meal.  you could try ground crackers, but for some reason, it's easy to get too much of the cracker taste and it dilutes the fish.  remember to add a splash of lemon when eating.  you could quick fry some small tomatoes with it and throw in some of those little green round things i can't remember the name of right now that are kinda salty (calpers? dang i can't believe i can't remember).  use clarified butter, ie warm it up, take the lumpy stuff off.  it raises it flash (burning) point. or use your favorite oil.  blot on paper towels after cooking.  blotting before as said by sawboss, and afterward is important, and also reduces the cracker adhesion well so you don't get too much.  also, let them come to room temp before cooking.  that way they cook more evenly and you can cook them less on the outside giving you a more tender lighter product compared to cooking them cold.

in the crackers i usually just throw in stuff from the spice cabinet that floats my boat, italian bent sometimes, cajun sometimes, ie cayenne pepper

i also have an indian spice mix for fish as well.  my favorite fish right now is sand dabs.

get a light white wine, not too dry or sweet like Gewürztraminer and get some nice hard mild white cheese to go with it too.  don't use russet potatoes, get the yukons and twice cook them.  try some chard and leek soup too, especially with winter right now. 

my ranking right now

sand dabs
catfish
trout
salmon
pretty much nothing else.

In a pinch, I have used corn muffin mix along with spices to taste. 

capers Knabe. Don't have any on hand but good ideas!

Red

Red - what time is dinner???  I just love catfish anyway that ya wanna cook it!!  Just let me know I will bring the hushpuppies and mac & cheese..... Drinks too!!  (dog)

yummy on both hush puppies & mac & cheese!!! Humm.. didn't think about either of those!

Red

Being raised in the Mid-south, i didn't know that there was any other way to fix it, except "Fried"!

GB

GB- that's probably how I'll fix it too! Just thought maybe there was something new & different out there.

Red

My husband is on a low fat diet (Dr. required, not by choice) is there any other way than to fry it, he can't do fried and we have some in the freezer?

Here is a baked catfish recipe:

1 lb.Catfish
1 tbsp. butter
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. dried thyme
dash of oregano
1/4 cup green onions
paprika

    Preheat oven to 350°F.  Thaw fish and place in a baking dish.  Dot with butter.  Thoroughly blend milk and flour.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sauce thickens and is bubbly.  Cook and stir 1 minute longer.  Stir in salt, garlic salt, pepper, thyme, oregano and green onion.  Pour mixture over fish.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes.

There you go Jill, that sounds like a good recipe above. Maybe use olive oil instead of butter?  I think I'm going to try that!
Also broiled or panfried without the breading in some olive oil would be good. I like it on the grill also in aluminum foil w/ veggies.

Red

Thanks, may have to try that tonight, he thinks he is starving to death.

Spicy Grilled Catfish is one of my favorites at Cracker Barrell. I love fried foods but can't eat them anymore so I go the grilled, baked, blackened route. Leaves a little more room for dessert when you don't eat fried. ;D

I tried the baked recipe last night. It was good but I think I like it floured & fried better. Oh well, never hurts to try a new approach!

Red

This thread made me go out and buy some catfish fillets at Dillons..      ;D ;D ;D

w/ the miserable weather today, I made a hamburger chowder. You just put raw hamburger into tomato juice & diced tomatoes. add some water & the veggies you like. Simmer for a couple of hours until the hamburger is cooked through. I like to add also either potatoes, barley or rice, depends on what I have on hand. Put some cornbread or crackers w/ it & you've got a real hearty hot meal!  (pop)

Red

coat fillets in egg and buttermilk ( bit of salt and pepper, in the coating not on the fish ) and dip in very finely chopped  "captin crunch" cereal coating and bake.. ...yummy....jbarl

coat fillets with ranch dressing and then crumbled up French's onion rings from the can, bake @ 300 for 10 - 15 minutes depending on how thick your fillets are.