How to cook Catfish?

Question

I bought a bag of frozen catfish pieces, How should I cook it? I have never had catfish before but seen that a lot of people use this kind of fish to batter and fry. Is this the best way to have it or whats a great way that you know of to cook the fish? Whats ur favorite Catfish Meal?

I dont like "fishy" tasting fish, is this going to be? I can always soak it in milk for awhile, thats supposed to help. What else would help?

Answer 1

I know one tip for catfish is that you want to soak it in milk befor adding batter. The milk will take away any fishy taste. From there mix flour and a little bit of seasoned salt for batter and fry. Remember fish cooks fast.

Answer 2

Alcohols, vinegars, and citric juices all operate the same way. They're chemicals that react with the "bacteria" that are causing the smell/taste. Put simply, they kill it.  so with any of my recipes below, just marinate your catfish in something, besides the milk.

If you like your fish to not be fishy then give this non-fishy flavored fish recipe a try.

Lemon Baked Catfish

1 lb frozen catfish filets

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

paprika

If fish fillets are large, cut into serving pieces.

Mix butter and lemon juice.

In another bowl, mix flour, salt and white pepper.

Dip fish into butter mixture; coat fish with flour mixture.

Place fish in ungreased square baking dish, 8×8x2 inches.

Pour remaining butter mixture over fish; sprinkle with paprika.

Cook uncovered in 350 degree oven until fish flakes easily with fork, 25-30 minutes. Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon slices if desired

Skillet-Grilled Catfish

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 (6 ounce) fillets catfish

1/4 cup butter

  

DIRECTIONS

In a large resealable bag, combine the first nine ingredients. Add catfish, one fillet at a time, and shake to coat.

Place a large cast-iron skillet on a grill rack over medium-hot heat. Melt butter in the skillet; add catfish. Grill, covered, for 6-8 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Beer Batter Fried Catfish                

Ingredients:

1-1/2 lb. catfish fillets, cut into strips

1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. cooking oil

1 cup flat beer

1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce

1 inch peanut oil in a skillet

Method:

Sift and blend the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Mix the tablespoon cooking oil, beer and Tabasco sauce and add to the flour mixture, stirring until smooth. Chill the batter. Heat the peanut oil to 375 degrees. Dip the cold strips of fish in the cold batter and cook in the hot oil for about 4 minutes. keep each batch of fried fish warm in a 200 degree oven while the next batch is cooking. Allow the oil to return to 375 degrees before cooking more fish. Serve with cocktail or tartar sauce. Serves 4.

Happy Eating!

Answer 3

I like mine grilled over charcoal and hickory wood and brushed with a little butter.

Answer 4

Catfish is soo yummy..... and doesn't have a lot of "fishy" taste to it.  It's really mild and tender.

This is one of those fish that you can bake, broil, grill, roll in batter and fry, poach.... the sky's the limit!

My very favorite way is to roll it in cornmeal, flour and seasonings and pan-fry it with a bit of good olive oil and butter mixed together.  I serve it with rice or baked potatoes and veggies and my family eats it completely gone!

Answer 5

I usually get a plate, put flour on it, some black pepper and flip the cat fish from front to back until it is covered in flour and then stick in in hot olive oil intil it is crunchy. You can eat it with Lemon on butter depending on your tastes.

A healthier alternative would be to wrap it in aluminum and stick in the oven until cooked. Then you can serve it w/ rice, corn, or mashed potatoes, and green beans for a healthy dinner.

Ive never heard of soaking it in milk. But fish can be eaten many ways, with butter, lemon and salt, with lemon powder, with Rosemary and black pepper. Its all depending on your tastes and your families preferences.  

Answer 6

One of the nicer things about farm raised catfish, and I certainly hope that you bought American farm-raised catfish rather than the dicey ChiCom trash, is that it has a very mild flavor.  Wild catfish are bottom feeding scavengers and can taste quite strong at times.  Farm-raised catfish are fed a scientifically formulated feed that helps prevent the fish from going off flavor.

There are several ways you can cook catfish fillets.

You can simply roll them in cornmeal and pan fry them.

You can make a batter with milk and egg, dredging in either seasoned flour or cornmeal and deep frying in two or three inches of oil or in a deep fryer.

Another way that is truly delicious is to make Catfish Cakes.  A young lady posted the recipe here at YA a couple of months ago, I've forgotten her name, or I'd give her credit.  Give them a try, they are out of this world good!

Doc

Catfish cakes

INGREDIENTS

1 pound catfish fillets

1 medium onion, chopped

1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard

1 tablespoon creamy salad dressing (e.g. Miracle Whip)

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning TM, or to taste

2 1/2 cups coarsely crushed buttery round crackers

1 egg

1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)

DIRECTIONS

Place catfish in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until fish flakes easily with a fork. Drain off water, and mash up the fish. Stir in the onion, mustard, salad dressing, Old Bay™, cracker crumbs and egg. Mix until evenly blended.

Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Form the fish mixture into patties, and fry in the hot oil. Drain on paper towels, and serve hot.

Answer 7

Do as you say and soak it if you wish but when you get ready to cook it use some of the milk with a couple eggs and beat the mix then dip fish in liquid and then corn meal, a little salt and pepper . that along with some lemon juice as you eat it is good eating.