Here’s a classic Southern-style catfish with hush puppies recipe—crispy, golden, and full of flavor 🐟🧄
Southern Fried Catfish
Ingredients
- 4 catfish fillets
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Oil for frying (vegetable, peanut, or canola)
Instructions for Catfish
- Soak fillets
- Dip catfish in buttermilk and let sit 10–15 minutes.
- Prepare coating
- Mix cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder in a shallow dish.
- Coat fish
- Dredge fillets in the cornmeal mixture, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Fry
- Heat oil in a skillet or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry catfish 3–5 minutes per side until golden brown and flaky.
- Drain on paper towels.
Classic Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp onion powder (or 2 tbsp finely chopped onion)
- 1 egg, beaten
- ½ cup milk (or buttermilk)
- Oil for frying
Instructions for Hush Puppies
- Mix dry ingredients
- Cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and onion powder.
- Add wet ingredients
- Stir in egg and milk until just combined (batter should be thick).
- Fry
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into hot oil.
- Fry 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Drain on paper towels.
Tips & Variations
- 🐟 Add cayenne or hot sauce to cornmeal for spicy catfish.
- 🥄 Mix chopped jalapeños into hush puppy batter for a kick.
- 🌿 Serve with tartar sauce, coleslaw, or lemon wedges.
- 🍋 Brush catfish with melted butter and a little paprika for extra Southern flavor.
If you want, I can give a one-pan version where catfish and hush puppies cook simultaneously with minimal cleanup.
Do you want me to do that?
