Utah Bites

Crispy Catfish Fry

I love the Southern tradition of the Friday (or Saturday) night fish fry. Here is a recipe for super crispy fried fish that uses a cornmeal coating rather than a flour-based batter. Try it and I think you’ll love it. Even kids really like the crisp, crunchy fish nuggets. 

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Crispy Catfish Fry
Crispy Catfish Fry. Photo by Ted Scheffler

I love the Southern tradition of the Friday (or Saturday) night fish fry. Here is a recipe for super crispy fried fish that uses a cornmeal coating rather than a flour-based batter. Try it and I think you’ll love it. Even kids really like the crisp, crunchy fish nuggets. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole buttermilk
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp hot sauce, such as Louisiana Hot Sauce
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • 3 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ¾ to 1 lb. catfish fillets, cut into small (about 2-inch) pieces
  • 1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • Oil for frying

Method: 

  1. In a shallow baking dish or sealable plastic freezer bag, combine the buttermilk, Worcestershire, hot sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 tsp of the salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Add the catfish pieces to the marinade and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours. 
  2. In a large shallow dish or pie pan, whisk together the cornmeal with the remaining salt, black pepper and cayenne. 
  3. Heat oil for frying to 350 degrees F. 
  4. While the oil is heating, remove the catfish pieces from the buttermilk mixture and dredge in the cornmeal. Allow the fish to sit in the cornmeal for at least 5 minutes before cooking. 
  5. Fry the catfish in the hot oil in batches, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper grocery bag or paper towels. Serve with additional hot sauce, if you like it hot!  

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Food writer Ted SchefflerOriginally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.

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