Description
Southern-style fried catfish nuggets celebrate classic Southern comfort cooking with crispy, golden-brown perfection. Perfectly seasoned cornmeal coating and tender fish create a delightful meal you’ll savor with pure Southern charm.
Ingredients
- 4 catfish fillets (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 cups cornmeal (454 g)
- 1 ½ cups flour (188 g)
- 3 cups vegetable oil (710 ml)
- 3 tbsps mustard
- 1 tbsp seasoning salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp seasoning salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- Tartar sauce (optional)
- Hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously cleanse catfish fillets and slice into uniform bite-sized chunks, ensuring precise, consistent pieces for even cooking.
- Seasoning: Coat fish nuggets with mustard, then generously dust with seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, massaging spices thoroughly to create a flavor-packed exterior.
- Breading: Whisk cornmeal, flour, and complementary spices in a shallow dish, creating a textured coating mixture. Dredge each mustard-coated nugget through the seasoned breading, pressing gently to achieve complete coverage.
- Frying: Heat vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet to 350°F. Gently introduce seasoned nuggets in small batches, avoiding overcrowding, and fry for 3-4 minutes, rotating periodically to develop a uniform golden-brown crust.
- Finishing: Drain crispy nuggets on a wire rack positioned over a baking sheet to preserve coating’s crispness. Serve piping hot with tartar sauce, hot sauce, or fresh lemon wedges for an authentic Southern-style seafood delight.
Notes
Prep with Precision: Clean and slice catfish fillets uniformly to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture throughout.
Mustard Magic: Apply mustard generously as a flavor-enhancing base that helps seasonings stick perfectly and adds tangy depth.
Coating Control: Press seasoned cornmeal mixture gently but firmly onto fish nuggets, ensuring complete and even coverage for maximum crispiness.
Temperature Triumph: Maintain oil at exactly 350°F and fry in small batches to preserve golden crunch and prevent soggy, oil-saturated results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg