How to Deep Fry Fresh Catfish Fillets

Fried catfish fillets are a Southern staple and you can enjoy the down home taste in your own kitchen with this simple recipe. Making perfectly golden brown and crispy catfish is easy.

Things You'll Need

• 8 medium catfish fillets
• 1 cup yellow corn meal
• 2 tsp. seasoned salt
• Cooking oil (enough to cover fish)

Instructions

1. Heat the cooking oil to 325 degrees. You may use a deep fryer or a frying pan. A deep fryer is easier because it ensures even cooking without you having to watch the fish and turn it. If you’re using a frying pan, the cast iron variety is best as it holds heat more evenly than a thinner frying pan.

2. Rinse the catfish fillets under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.

3. Dump the seasoned salt and yellow corn meal into a bag. You can use a paper or plastic grocery bag if you have one handy, or any sort of container with a lid.

4. Drop the catfish fillets into the flour and shake the bag gently but thoroughly until the catfish is covered with flour and seasoning mixture.

5. Sprinkle a pinch of the flour into the hot oil. If the oil sizzles or pops, it’s ready for cooking. If the oil merely rolls a bit, it needs to be heated a few minutes more. You want the oil to be hot so that it immediately sizzles when you put the catfish in. This seals in the flavor of the fried catfish fillets.

6. Place the catfish in the hot oil. You may have to cook two batches, depending upon how large a deep fryer or frying pan you have.

7. Cook the catfish for about five minutes or until golden brown. If you’re using a frying pan, turn the catfish fillets over with a fork halfway through cooking.

8. Place the fish onto a bed of two or three thick paper towels to drain for two minutes, then serve piping hot.

Tips & Warnings

• Fried catfish fillets are delicious alone, but a few great compliments are hot sauce, tartar sauce or a twist of lemon.