Try this easy fish fry recipe for Lent
The Lenten season is here, which means Christian observers are looking for fish and seafood dishes to eat on Fridays.
And we’ve got the perfect Southern-inspired catfish recipe, complete with an easy homemade tartar sauce!
Lent is a 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter where observers engage in penance, prayer and fasting. According to Christian teaching, Jesus died on a Friday and so fasting or abstaining from eating the flesh of warm-blooded animals gave way to "Fish Fridays."
Western Christian churches will celebrate Easter April 17. Eastern Orthodox Christians, who use a different calendar to determine holy days, will celebrate Easter April 24.
Did you know? Why Christians wear ashes for Ash Wednesday and give up their favorite things for Lent
Cornmeal-Fried Catfish with Scallion Tartar Sauce
- Serves: 4
- Hands On Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
Scallion Tartar Sauce
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 5 scallions, green and white parts only, thinly sliced
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped capers
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill pickles, plus 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fried Catfish
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 4 boneless catfish fillets
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups yellow cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
- Kosher salt
Instructions
To make the tartar sauce: In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, scallions, lemon juice, capers, pickles and pickle juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
To make the fried catfish: In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 inches of the oil to 350 degrees over medium-high heat. Alternatively, heat the oil to 350 degrees in a deep fryer following the manufacturer’s directions. Line a large plate or platter with paper towels.
While the oil is heating, whisk together the buttermilk and hot sauce in a large bowl. Add the catfish and let soak for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the flour, cornmeal, Old Bay and 2 tablespoons salt in a second large bowl.
Remove the catfish from the buttermilk, drain off any excess liquid and transfer to the flour mixture. Thoroughly coat the catfish on all sides, tap off the excess flour and transfer to a second large plate.
Fry the catfish in the hot oil, 2 fillets at a time, until the fish has cooked through and the breading is crisp, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the paper towel-lined plate and season with salt. Repeat with the remaining catfish. Serve hot alongside the scallion tartar sauce.
Recipe notes:
Try to source domestic, farm-raised catfish and avoid anything imported from overseas. Mississippi has many amazing farms that produce catfish with a sweet and clean flavor, and without any of the stereotypical muddiness associated with imported catfish. Catfish fillets can range in size quite dramatically, so the fish may take up to 10 minutes to fry.
We prefer Texas Pete hot sauce and Duke’s Mayonnaise in this recipe.