Buttermilk Fried Catfish (Printable Version)

Crispy golden catfish fillets with a cornmeal crust, soaked in tangy buttermilk for the ultimate Southern comfort dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Marinade

01 - 4 catfish fillets (150–200 g each)
02 - 480 ml buttermilk
03 - 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - ½ tsp black pepper

→ Breading

06 - 120 g yellow cornmeal
07 - 60 g all-purpose flour
08 - 1 tsp garlic powder
09 - 1 tsp onion powder
10 - ½ tsp paprika
11 - ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
12 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For Frying

13 - Vegetable oil, for frying
14 - Lemon wedges, for serving
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Rinse and pat dry the catfish fillets.
02 - In a large bowl or zip-top bag, combine buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Submerge fillets and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
03 - In a shallow dish, mix cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
04 - Heat oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 175°C (350°F).
05 - Remove fillets from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge in cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to coat evenly.
06 - Fry fillets in batches for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
07 - Serve hot with lemon wedges and optional parsley garnish.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Ready in just 30 minutes of active cooking time
  • Uses simple pantry ingredients for maximum flavor
  • Achieves restaurant quality crispiness at home
  • Perfect balance of seasoning with customizable heat
02 -
  • This recipe contains 32g of protein per serving
  • The buttermilk marinade makes for exceptionally tender fish
  • Can be made ahead and reheated in a 350°F oven
  • Perfectly paired with traditional Southern sides
03 -
  • Let the breaded fish rest for 5 minutes before frying to help the coating adhere better during cooking
  • Never cover hot fried fish with foil or a lid as trapped steam will quickly soften your perfect crispy crust
  • For extra flavor consider adding a teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning to your breading mixture for a distinctive Southern coastal touch
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