Catfish

Fried catfish is a classic Southern dish known for its crispy cornmeal coating and tender, flaky inside. Here’s a simple, authentic way to make it:

🧂 Ingredients

• 4 catfish fillets (fresh or thawed)

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• Vegetable oil (for frying)

• Lemon wedges (for serving)

---

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Soak the fish
   Place fillets in buttermilk and soak for 30–60 minutes. This tenderizes the fish and reduces any muddy flavor.

2. Prepare coating
   In a shallow dish, mix cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

3. Heat oil
   Pour oil into a skillet (about 1 inch deep). Heat to 350–365°F (175–185°C).

4. Dredge
   Remove fish from buttermilk, let excess drip off, then coat thoroughly in cornmeal mixture.

5. Fry
   Fry 3–5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).

6. Drain & serve
   Remove and place on paper towels. Serve hot with lemon wedges.

---

🍽️ Classic Side Dishes

• Coleslaw

• Hush puppies

• French fries

• Collard greens

• Tartar sauce or hot sauce