-
Active Time
30 minutes
-
Total Time
30 minutes
For a real southern meal, pair this dish with thebacon scallion hush puppies.
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings
Special Equipment
Step 1
Whisk together egg, milk, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Pulse saltines in a food processor until finely ground, then stir together with cayenne and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow baking dish.
Step 2
Dip 1 catfish fillet into egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then dredge in saltines to coat and transfer to a wax-paper-lined tray. Coat remaining fillets in same manner.
Step 3
Preheat oven to 300°F.
Step 4
Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) over high heat until it registers 360°F on thermometer. Carefully lower 1 fillet into oil (temperature of oil will drop to 340°F), then fry until golden and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer fillet with a slotted spatula to a rack set over paper towels to drain briefly, then transfer to a shallow baking pan and keep hot in oven. Fry remaining fillets in same manner, returning oil to 360°F each time.
Leave a Review
Reviews (10)
Back to TopIm from Mississippi as well and I have never heard of frying catfish in anything other than cornmeal. Take "Southern" off this recipe. Ive got a bag of yellow cat filets at the house Im frying this weekend to go with some cold beer. Can't wait!
southrnmiss
Jackson, MS
6/16/2011
Not southern at all. Different. i still use corn meal and corn flakes.
Nanny_Jaz
Houston, TX
12/22/2010
Great southern favorite!! Mine too
JimWithrow
Rowlett TX
12/3/2007
YUMMM! Somehow, at 42 I had yet to fry catfish, but this recipe gave me the nerve. No saltines in the house so, I used buffalo Doritos and veggie Ritz crackers with a sprinkling of thyme and black pepper
poofter
Arlington, VA
9/16/2007
I agree with oldsage... I am from the south and am very familiar with southern cooking. This recipe is far from what I would call southern.
Anonymous
Wilmington, NC
4/19/2007
I am 69 years old, and have eaten food from around the world, but the primary cooking that I have eaten has been Southern cooking as I am a Southerner. I know of no Southern cook who would cook catfish or any other kind of fish using Saltines. This is NOT Southern Fried Catfish.
oldsage
South Carolina
4/8/2006
THIS MAY BE GOURMET FRIED CATFISH BUT IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT NOT SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH. I HAVE LIVED IN MISSISSIPPI FOR 43 YEARS AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT NO ONE FRIES CATFISH WITH SALTINE CRACKERS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO ONE!!!! (CORNMEAL)
CHEEKY35
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
3/14/2006
This is NOT Southern Fried Catfish, so it should not be called that. Southern Fried catfish uses cornmeal. Even the boxed mixes know this. Change may be good, So change the name to Northern Fried Catfish.
wallace_gromit
Alabama
1/28/2006
Yes, it is better and more traditional with cornmeal, but this is good. Change is good, once in a while.
Brad
Carbondale, IL
2/11/2004
I did not even attempt to make this. The true southern way to make ANY fried fish, but especially catfish, would NEVER be with saltines!The only real way to make southern fried catfish is with cornmeal. Any true southerner knows that.
Anonymous
Arkansas
10/22/2003
