FISH ESSENTIALS: LAZY DAY CATFISH

Fish Essentials: Lazy Day Catfish image

I have a hankering for some good catfish; however, I really don't want to spend a lot of time putting it all together. I want good flavor, and I want it fast with a minimum of fuss... Well, he ya go. And here's a tip for you. Take a nice russet potato, cut it into thin French fries, and cook them in the oil, at the same time you're cooking the fish. So, you ready... Let's get into the kitchen.

Provided by Andy Anderson ! @ThePretentiousChef

Categories Fish

Number Of Ingredients 10

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Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
2 large catfish filets
1/2 cup(s) fresh buttermilk
1/4 cup(s) water
- salt, kosher variety, to taste
- black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
1 cup(s) cornmeal, finely ground
1/2 cup(s) flour, all purpose variety
1/2 tablespoon(s) seasoning (tony chachere's creole seasoning, or old bay)
1 cup(s) coconut oil, for pan frying

Steps:

PREP/PREPARE
Chef's Note: I don't have all of the images I normally would have for a recipe; however, one of my houseguests was helping me, and she kept insisting that I drink more wine. Let's just say that I got distracted, and leave it at that.
Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
Mix the buttermilk with the water, and place in a shallow bowl or plate, add the catfish, and let soak for about 10 minutes, and then dust with some salt and pepper, to taste.
Mix the cornmeal flour, and seasoning (tony chachere's creole seasoning, or old bay) together in a bowl.
Place the coating mix in a shallow plate.
Add the catfish and coat both sides.
Chef's Note: Add the coconut oil to a sauté pan, and bring up to a temperature of 350f (175c).
Chef's Tip: Why coconut oil? Well, coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils to cook with. Studies have shown that even after 8 hours of continuous deep-frying at 365°F (180°C), its quality does not deteriorate. Over 90% of the fatty acids in coconut oil are saturated, which makes it very resistant to heat. Saturated fats used to be considered unhealthy, but new studies show that they are a completely harmless source of energy for humans. Additionally, coconut oil has numerous health benefits. For example, it can help kill harmful bacteria and viruses, and may even help you lose belly fat. With that said, feel free to use any oil that you want.
Add the catfish to the oil.
Chef's Note: At this point, you can add your French fries (if you're making some).
After 3 minutes, turn the fish over.
After another 3 minutes turn them over again.
Remove the catfish from the oil and drain on paper towels.
PLATE/PRESENT
Add the catfish to a plate with the fries or coleslaw, and maybe some tarter sauce. Enjoy.
Keep the faith, and keep cooking.