Southern Fried Catfish Recipe

• • 6 cups (48 fluid ounces) good quality vegetable oil
• • 1 egg, large and lightly beaten
• • 1/3 cup homogenized or whole milk
• • ½ tsp table salt
• • 30 soda crackers (saltines are the most traditional choice)
• • ¼ tsp cayenne seasoning or pepper
• • 4 catfish fillets (5 to 7 ounces each)

Prepare coating for catfish by whisking egg, milk and ¼ tsp salt in a medium sized bowl. Using a food processor, grind the saltines or soda crackers until they are finely ground. Combine the crumbs with the cayenne and the last ¼ tsp of the salt. Make sure that this mixture is placed in a shallow dish since you will be dipping the fish into it.

First dip the catfish fillets in the egg and milk mixture, then hold the fillets out so that any excess moisture can drip off. After, run the coated fillet through the crumb mixture so that the cracker crumbs coat the fillets as evenly as possible. As each fillet is coated, transfer it to a tray that has been covered in wax paper to allow it to rest while you finish coating the remainder of the fillets.

Check the temperature of the oil prior to dipping each fillet. The thermometer should read 360°. Carefully place fillets in the oil one at a time, ensuring that the hot oil does not splash or leap out of the pot. You will notice that each time a fillet is placed in the oil, the temperature will drop by about twenty degrees.

Fry each fillet until it is golden brown and lightly cooked. This should take between three and four minutes depending on the size of the fillets. Remove the fillets with a slotted spoon and allow the excess oil to drain off by placing fillets on a rack set over a layer of paper toweling.

Once the fillets have drained briefly, move them to a baking pan and place this in the preheated oven. This will keep the fillets hot while you cook the remainder of the batch. You need to make sure that the oil returns to the 360° temperature before you place other fillets in the oil so that each cooks evenly.

This catfish recipe will make approximately four servings of fried catfish.

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