Southern Essentials Oven Baked Catfish Recipes

SOUTHERN ESSENTIALS: OVEN-BAKED CATFISH

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. THE COATING
• 3. Gather your ingredients.
• 4. Add all of the coating ingredients to a large bowl, thoroughly mix, and reserve.
• 5. THE CATFISH
• 6. Gather your ingredients.
• 7. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 425f (220c).
• 8. Add the hot sauce and the buttermilk to a shallow dish large enough to hold the filets.
• 9. Place the filets in the dish, and allow them to sit for 8 minutes.
• 10. After eight minutes, flip the filets over for an additional 8 minutes.
• 11. Chef's Note: In place of the dish, you could always use a large Ziploc sealable bag.
• 12. Chef's Note: I tried several ways to make the wet ingredients for this recipe. I tried eggs; however, I didn't like the taste of the eggs with the coating, and they made the fish feel mushy. I tried using regular and non-fat milk, but neither of them gave me the taste I was searching for. I finally settled on that old Southern favorite buttermilk... that and a bit of hot sauce did the trick.
• 13. While the catfish are soaking up that yummy buttermilk/hot sauce mixture, place a wire rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• 14. One at a time take a filet, shake off the excess buttermilk, and thoroughly coat with the cornmeal mixture.
• 15. Place on the wire rack, and repeat for the remaining filets.
• 16. Place in the preheated oven and cook until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• 17. Chef's Essentials: If you don't have a wire rack that you can use in baking, I highly recommend that you purchase one. They are so useful. For example, if you don't use a wire rack in this recipe, you should go in halfway through baking and flip the fish. In my opinion, this is an essential tool that all chefs should have in their kitchens.
• 18. PLATE/PRESENT
• 19. Serve up while still nice and warm with some homemade hushpuppies, some coleslaw, and maybe a few fries. Oh, and don't forget good tarter sauce, and maybe more hot sauce. Enjoy.
• 20. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
• 21. If you enjoyed this recipe, and would like to be notified when I post more yummy stuff, just click here to follow me: https://www.justapinch.com/my/favorites/add/id/747894

BAKED SOUTHERN CATFISH WITH A TWIST

Steps:

• 1. Take a baking sheet, and line it with parchment paper.
• 2. Place a metal cooling rack on top of the parchment paper.
• 3. Chef's Note: The cooling rack will raise the catfish off the bottom of the baking sheet, and help them to crisp evenly.
• 4. In a large bowl combine the ground cornmeal, all-purpose flour, and the creole seasoning.
• 5. Chef's Note: I like to make my own creole seasoning, so that I can control the ingredients. This is what I use, when I make up a batch: 2 tablespoons onion powder 2 tablespoons garlic powder 2 tablespoons dried oregano 2 tablespoons dried basil 1 tablespoon dried thyme 1/2 tablespoon black pepper 1/2 tablespoon white pepper 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper 4 tablespoons paprika 1 tablespoon salt
• 6. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, dijon mustard, and the hot sauce.
• 7. Place the breadcrumbs into another bowl.
• 8. Take one of the pieces of catfish, and dredge it in the cornmeal/flour mixture. Making sure that the fillet is completely and evenly covered.
• 9. Drop it into the buttermilk/egg mixture, and allow the flour to absorb the liquid, about 15 seconds per side.
• 10. Chef's Tip: To keep my hands as dry as possible, I place the catfish in the liquid using a pair of tongs.
• 11. Place the fillet into the breadcrumbs, and throughly cover. Use your hands to scoop up the breadcrumbs and press them into the fish.
• 12. Place the finished catfish on the rack inside the baking sheet, and repeat for the other fillets.
• 13. Allow the fillets to rest for about 15 minutes.
• 14. Chef's Note: This resting period will help the coating stick to the fish, during the baking process.
• 15. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat your oven to 425f (220c).
• 16. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the coating begins to nicely brown.
• 17. Chef's Note: Panko breadcrumbs are not a part of traditional southern fried catfish; however, their addition adds another level of flavor to the fish, and helps to keep the fillets moist during their time in the oven. This is why I call the recipe Baked Southern Catfish with a Twist.
• 18. Serving Tip: If you like you can serve these fillets with a nice bowl of dirty rice, or just a big bowl of homemade hushpuppies... YUM.
• 19. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

SOUTHERN-STYLE OVEN-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a 13x9 glass baking dish with the oil, and set aside.
• Rinse the catfish fillets, and pat dry. In a shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, creole seasoning, paprika, sugar, and black pepper. Combine the eggs and hot sauce or water in a another bowl. Dip the fillets in the egg mixture, dredge in the cornmeal mixture, and arrange in the baking pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown. Turn once during cooking. Place catfish on a paper-towel lined plate, and serve immediately with additional hot sauce.