Southern Cornmeal Fried Catfish

A perfect Southern meal often includes fried fish, particularly catfish. This dense, meaty fish can be found in Southern and BBQ restaurants all over the country. Now, you can make your own fried catfish filets right at home, which can be ready in just 30 minutes. Coating the catfish in flour and cornmeal gives a light, flavorful crust that pairs perfectly with the meat.

The recipe that follows features a simple, traditional method of frying catfish. Once the fish is fried, you can choose to eat it as is, use it on a po’ boy sandwich, or serve it alongside your favorite BBQ side dishes. Transform it into an appetizer by cutting the fish into 1-inch pieces and making catfish bites. The crispy-fried coating will definitely have everyone coming back for seconds. Don’t overcrowd the fryer, because this will bring down the temperature of the oil and make the fish soggy.