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Fried Catfish Strips

Crispy cornmeal-crusted catfish strips seasoned with Cajun spices and fried to a golden crunch. Serves well with fresh lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

25 minEasyServes 4460 cal/serving

CajunDinnerStovetopPescatarianHigh ProteinHalal-friendlyNut-FreeShellfish-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeSesame-Free

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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs catfish fillets, sliced
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tsp hot sauce
  • 4 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. 1

    Whisk 1 cup buttermilk and 2 tsp hot sauce together in a shallow bowl.

  2. 2

    In a separate shallow dish, combine 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, and 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning.

  3. 3

    Pour 4 cups vegetable oil into a heavy skillet until it reaches a depth of one inch, then heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  4. 4

    Dip 2 lbs sliced catfish fillets into the buttermilk mixture, then coat thoroughly in the cornmeal mixture.

  5. 5

    Fry the strips in batches for 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

  6. 6

    Transfer cooked fish to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain before serving.

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Questions

What should Fried Catfish Strips look like when it is ready?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 5: cook until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Is there a substitute for buttermilk in Fried Catfish Strips?

The entry for Fried Catfish Strips calls for 1 cup buttermilk. In its place: Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into a cup of milk and let it stand five minutes. Plain yogurt thinned with milk also works.

Can I use a different white fish instead of the catfish in Fried Catfish Strips?

Yes. Any firm white fish of similar thickness works: cod, haddock, pollock and halibut are interchangeable here. Timing follows thickness, not species. As written, the entry for Fried Catfish Strips uses 2 lbs catfish fillets, sliced.

How hot is Fried Catfish Strips?

Moderately. The heat in Fried Catfish Strips comes from 2 tsp hot sauce. For a milder plate, start with half the hot sauce and add more to taste at the end; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Can I make Fried Catfish Strips gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Fried Catfish Strips is 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Serve it with

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