Catfish With Croutons And Nuts Recipes

BIG DADDY'S DEEP-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and cayenne and whisk to combine. Whisk in the beer, being sure to remove any lumps.
• Cut the catfish fillets in half lengthwise to make 2 strips. If desired, cut into bite-sized pieces. In a small bowl add the salt, pepper and granulated garlic. Season the fillets with some of the salt mixture. Reserve the remaining salt mixture for another use.
• Dip each strip in the beer batter and add to the fryer, a few at a time, moving them around so they don't stick. Fry until brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the fryer to a serving platter. Repeat with the remaining fillets and season the fish with lemon juice.

FRIED CATFISH TOPPED WITH CRAWFISH AU GRATIN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the onions, peppers and garlic until wilted. Add the flour and stir until a blond roux is achieved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sugar, chicken base, crab base, granulated garlic, basil, black pepper, cayenne pepper and thyme. Add the milk and wine and cook over medium heat until the milk thickens, stirring constantly, about 6 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until the cheese melts and fully incorporates into the sauce. Add the crawfish tails and cook until heated through, about 4 minutes. Add the green onions just before serving.
• For the catfish: Sprinkle the catfish with Creole seasoning. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and add the milk. Coat the catfish in flour and dip in the milk/egg mixture, then coat with cornmeal. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a large skillet. Fry the catfish until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Serve the catfish with the crawfish au gratin sauce.

CATFISH WITH CROUTONS AND NUTS

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet. When hot, add the croutons and nuts and saute them for about 4 minutes, until nicely browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
• In same skillet, heat butter and olive oil. Sprinkle fish fillets on both sides with salt and pepper, and place them in one layer in the skillet. Saute 1 1/2 minutes on each side until the fish is just cooked in center.
• Arrange catfish on a platter or divide it among individual plates. Add garlic and chives to the drippings in the skillet and cook about 15 seconds. Then, add the water to the skillet and stir to dissolve all the solidified bits in the bottom of the pan.
• To serve, pour the resulting pan sauce over the fish, spoon on the croutons and nuts, and serve immediately, sprinkling the fish, if desired, with a little red-wine vinegar.

NATIVE AMERICAN CATFISH WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Spread pine nuts on a baking sheet and toast in oven for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.Cool.
• Grind 1/4 cup of pine nuts and reserve remaining for garnish.
• Mix ground pine nuts,cornmeal, flour, salt, cayenne pepper and cumin in a shallow dish.
• Dredge fillets in the pine nut mixture.Set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry catfish fillets two at a time in the hot oil for 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork .
• Sprinkle fillets with whole pine nuts and serve.