Fish dishes are regularly found on the table of every family. Typically, those types of fish are prepared that can be found in the nearest store: pelengas, zander, cod. But sometimes, on occasion, something unusual may fall into the hands of the mistress. For example, catfish. And then there are difficulties with its preparation. Most cooks prefer to bake this fish. However, in our opinion, fried catfish is still tastier. The recipes for cooking in the pan are quite diverse, so that you can easily pick up something to your liking.
Catfish is a peculiar fish. His meat is a bit tight. And if cooking is illiterate, at the table it will seem like a sponge in your mouth, not fried catfish. The recipe (any of the following) and its observance guarantee that such a nuisance will not happen to you. And all consumers will be satisfied with your cooking.
Fried catfish: the simplest recipe
This fish often has a muddy smell. And the larger the carcass, the more pronounced it is. To prevent this disadvantage from fried catfish, the recipe recommends pickling it. For this, the fish is gutted, washed, dried, rubbed with salt and spices and left covered for half an hour. Then each piece is rolled in flour and put on a well-heated skillet. Catfish is fried until golden brown, about ten minutes on each side. Before serving, fish should be held on a paper towel to remove excess drops of fat.
Catfish in batter
If the fish is provided with an additional “fur coat”, a very tender and fragrant catfish will be fried in a pan. The initial steps recipe suggests the same as in the first recipe: the carcass is washed, dried, cut and seasoned. While the oil is heated in a frying pan, an egg is beaten in a bowl - it will be enough for a pound of fish. Flour is poured into a flat plate. Each slice of catfish fillet is dipped in an egg, and then rolled in flour. This procedure must be repeated three times. Then the fish goes to the pan. Due to the formed “shell” it is necessary to fry it less, for five minutes on each side.
Catfish with tomatoes
If you add tomatoes to the list of ingredients, you will get just delicious fried catfish. The recipe suggests acting on such an algorithm.
- Fish is handled accordingly. If you have it frozen, take it out ahead of time: with intensive defrosting (in the microwave or under running water), the catfish meat becomes loose and sluggish.
- Portion pieces are sprinkled with spices and salt and left for at least five minutes - to saturate with aromas.
- A piece of butter is melted in a frying pan. In it, until cooked, the fillet rolled in flour is fried.
- Five medium tomatoes (the amount is indicated per pound of fish) are peeled. They need to be cut into neat circles.
- Two onions are chopped by rings. They are allowed in olive oil until transparent, after which tomatoes are placed in the pan.
- After five minutes of co-frying, the fillet is added to the vegetables and water is poured - not more than a quarter cup. The dish will be stewed under a lid, until the liquid is almost completely evaporated.
Fish cooked according to this recipe is eaten hot and sprinkled with herbs. If you wish, you can prepare a side dish for it - rice or mashed potatoes.
Holiday recipe
If your catfish is intended for a festive table, it makes sense to tinker longer, but bring its taste to the ideal. And for this you need to marinate the carcass cut in a special composition. For him, the onion and three to four garlic cloves are peeled and passed through a blender. Two spoons of soy sauce and one of good vodka pour into the gruel. Salt and red pepper are added to suit your tastes. With this mixture every piece of fish is carefully coated; slices are folded into a container that closes and hides in the refrigerator for an hour.
The last step will be frying. Before it, slices are carefully sprinkled with flour so that the mixture in which they are pickled does not fall. It is also necessary to fry carefully: breading is almost the most delicious that will be in the dish. When serving, the catfish is decorated with parsley sprigs, thin lemon slices, pink peppercorns and red onion rings.
Best Catfish Sauce
Even a simple fried fish will be unbelievably delicious if you put a sauceboat with special gravy next to the plate. Fresh ginger is rubbed for her; his shavings will need a teaspoon. Garlic clove and fresh hot pepper are pounded in a mortar. How much to take pepper, decide for yourself: the degree of severity is a private matter. Two spoons of chopped greens are added to the mixture of spices (dill and parsley are mandatory, the rest are to be imagined yourself), a spoon of liquid honey, half of lemon juice and four tablespoons of sour cream. Sour cream can be replaced with low-fat natural yogurt. The sauce is salted and cleaned to insist on cold.
If you come across a giant from a pool, do not puzzle over how to cook it: let your table decorate fried catfish. Recipes with photos will certainly convince you to taste this delicious fish.