Catfish..... Salt and Pepper Catfish

Submitted by Tim_John

"This is the favotite way to prepare catfish in the North Carolina Piedmont. The coating is spicy, making it a nice contrast to the delicate flavor of the catfish."

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Serves: 2-4

ingredients

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 4 catfish fillets
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1⁄2 cup flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons freshly ground sea salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
• vegetable oil (for frying)

directions

1. Place buttermilk in a 2-quart baking dish; place fillets in buttermilk and allow to marinate for 15 minutes.
2. Place oil in a 12 inch cast iron skillet to a depth of about 2 inches. Heat until oil registers 375 degrees F. on an instant-read thermometer.
3. In a large, zipper-lock food storage bag, mix remaining ingredients by zipping them inside bag and shaking until well blended. Remove fillets from buttermilk; allow excess liquid to drain.PPlace fillets in bag and shake gently until completely coated.
4. Gently shake off excess coating mixture and carefully place into hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels and serve.

Reviews

[Frank M.]

Just the right balance of corn meal and flour, just the right balance of pepper and salt. Yes, this tastes just like the Salt and Pepper Catfish I've had many times in Piedmont NC. Thanks for the recipe.