Catfish Fingers with Homemade Tartar Sauce and Fried Hushpuppies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon Emeril’s Original Essence or Creole Seasoning, plus more for sprinkling
- 1 tablespoon Crystal hot sauce or other Louisiana hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 ½ pounds catfish fillets, trimmed of any bloodline
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup yellow cornmeal
- ¼ cup corn flour (masa)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- Homemade Tartar Sauce, for serving (recipe follows)
- Hushpuppies, for serving
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, mustard, Essence, hot sauce, and garlic.
Cut the fish into 5- or 6-inch long pieces about 1 inch wide. Add the fish strips to the bowl with the buttermilk-mustard mixture and turn so that the pieces are evenly coated. Set aside to marinate while you assemble the remaining ingredients.
Add enough oil to a large Dutch oven to fill it halfway. Preheat the oil to 365 degrees F over medium-high heat.
In a shallow bowl or in a resealable food-storage plastic bag, combine the flour, cornmeal, corn flour, and salt. Stir or shake to combine.
Working in batches, remove a handful of fish fingers from the marinade and dredge in the flour mixture until completely coated. Tap to remove any excess. One at a time, gently slip the fish into the hot oil. Fry until the fish is crispy and golden brown and floats on the surface of the oil, usually 3 to 4 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon or a spider, transfer the fried fish to paper towels or a wire rack to drain, then sprinkle lightly with Creole Seasoning and serve with tartar sauce, hushpuppies, and lemon wedges. Serve hot.
Recipe Details
- Dish Type: Entree
- Cuisine: American
- Cooking Method: Deep Frying
- Occasion: Any
- Effort Level: Moderate
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