Southern Fried Catfish is a classic Southern dish with crispy cornmeal coating and tender, flaky fish inside. It’s usually served with coleslaw, fries, or hush puppies.
Ingredients
- 4 catfish fillets
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- Lemon wedges (optional)
Instructions
1. Soak the Fish
- Pour buttermilk over the catfish fillets in a bowl.
- Let them soak for 15–30 minutes.
This helps tenderize the fish and remove any strong flavor.
2. Prepare the Coating
In a shallow dish mix:
- cornmeal
- flour
- salt
- pepper
- paprika
- garlic powder
3. Coat the Catfish
- Remove fillets from buttermilk and let excess drip off.
- Dredge each piece in the cornmeal mixture, coating well.
4. Fry
- Heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry catfish 3–5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
5. Drain
- Place on paper towels to drain extra oil.
Serve With
Popular sides for Southern catfish:
- Coleslaw
- French fries
- Hush puppies
- Cornbread
- Tartar sauce
🍋 Tip: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the hot catfish for extra flavor.
If you want, I can also show you:
- The secret Southern cornmeal mix restaurants use
- Air fryer catfish (much less oil)
- Crispy fried catfish nuggets recipe. 🐟🍽️
