Catfish Fillets With Jalapeno Tartar Sauce Recipes

HUSHPUPPY-BATTERED CATFISH NUGGETS WITH SPICY TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together hushpuppy mix, milk, water, egg, jalapenos, hot pepper sauce and cayenne; let stand 5 minutes.
• Pour oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a large deep skillet; heat oil to 350 degrees F.
• Pat catfish fillets dry with paper towels, and cut into bite-size pieces. Dredge catfish pieces in flour, and then dip in hushpuppy batter mixture. Drop catfish pieces into hot oil, and fry, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Serve with Spicy Tartar Sauce.
• Stir together all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

CATFISH FILLETS WITH JALAPENO TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Begin heating 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat in a deep, heavy pot to 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile, combine beer, mustard, 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper in a small shallow bowl; mix well.
• Put the cornmeal in another shallow bowl.
• Dip the fish into the cornmeal and coat, then dip it into the beer mixture.
• Add to the hot oil, one piece at time, cooking in batches if necessary. Do not crowd the pan.
• Fry until crispy and golden brown.
• To Make the jalapeno tartar sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients and mix.
• Chill until ready to serve with the catfish.

JALAPENO TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in the small food processor or blender and process for approx. 15 seconds.
• Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

SPICY CATFISH TENDERS WITH CAJUN TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare fish:
• Whisk together egg and hot sauce in a wide shallow dish. Stir in fish strips and let stand at room temperature at least 10 and up to 30 minutes.
• Pour enough oil into a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot to measure 2 inches and heat over moderate heat until thermometer registers 350°F.
• Stir together flour, cornmeal, salt, and Cajun seasoning in another wide shallow dish.
• Make tartar sauce:
• Stir together all sauce ingredients in a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to serve.
• Fry fish:
• Drain fish well in a colander. Dredge one fourth of fish in flour mixture, shaking off excess, then transfer to oil and fry, stirring occasionally with a slotted spoon, until golden and just cooked through, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 350°F. Repeat procedure with remaining fish strips in 3 batches.
• Serve fish tenders hot with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
• *Available for order: BlueChef (bluechef.com), The Spice Hunter (800-444-3016), and Mc Cormick (AASpices.com).

OVEN-FRIED CATFISH WITH DILL TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.Place breadcrumbs and melted butter in separate shallow dishes. Cut each fish fillet crosswise in half. Season fish with salt and pepper. Dip fish into butter, then into breadcrumbs, coating completely; place fish on baking sheet. Bake fish until crisp, brown and just cooked through, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir mayonnaise, relish, dill and capers in small bowl to blend. Season tartar sauce with salt and pepper.
• Transfer fish to plates. Serve fish with tartar sauce.

COUNTRY FRIED CHESAPEAKE CATFISH WITH JALAPEñO-MINT AIOLI

Steps:

• Make the aioli: Heat a small sauté pan over high heat. Add the butter and olive oil to the pan and immediately add the jalapeños and 4 of the garlic cloves. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until the jalapeños are nicely charred. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a food processor and add the remaining garlic clove, lemon juice and mayonnaise. Pulse until combined. (Don't worry if it isn't smooth.) Scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl, add the mint and season with salt and pepper. Pulse until well combined and chill. You can use it right away, but it will get better after a few hours.
• Prepare the catfish: In a shallow casserole dish, mix the flour, cornmeal, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Pour the buttermilk into a separate casserole dish.
• Pat catfish fillets dry, and using a very sharp chef's knife, slice them horizontally into 2 thinner fillets, about 1/2-inch thick.
• Pour the oil into a 12- to 14-inch skillet, preferably cast iron, and heat over medium heat until the oil is hot but not smoking. While it is heating, dip the catfish into the buttermilk, then lift out and shake off the excess liquid. Transfer the catfish sheets onto the dredge and press firmly on both sides.
• To test the oil, add a small piece of fish to the pan; if it bubbles immediately, the oil is ready. After dredging each fillet, add it to the pan, cooking as many as will comfortable fit into the pan at one time. Cook for about 4 minutes until the edges are golden brown, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes or until cooked through. Immediately transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat with remaining catfish.
• Transfer 2 catfish pieces to each plate and top each piece with the jalapeño-mint aioli. Serve immediately with lemon on the side.