Classic Fried Catfish

Name: Classic Fried Catfish
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups buttermilk; 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce; 6 (4- to 6-oz.) catfish fillets; 1/3 cup plain yellow cornmeal; 1/3 cup masa harina (corn flour)*; 1/3 cup all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon ground red pepper; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; Peanut oil

11 ingredients

7 steps

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
6 (4- to 6-oz.) catfish fillets
1/3 cup plain yellow cornmeal
1/3 cup masa harina (corn flour)*
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Peanut oil

Directions

1

Whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce.
2

Place catfish in a single layer in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish; pour buttermilk mixture over fish. Cover and chill 8 hours, turning once.
3

Combine cornmeal and next 6 ingredients in a shallow dish.
4

Let fish stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Remove from buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge fish in cornmeal mixture, shaking off excess.
5

Pour oil to depth of 2 inches into a large, deep cast-iron or heavy-duty skillet; heat to 360°.
6

Fry fish, in batches, 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack on a paper towel-lined jelly-roll pan. Keep warm in a 225° oven until ready to serve.
7

*All-purpose flour or plain yellow cornmeal may be substituted.