Best Spicy Catfish Recipes

SPICY CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CATFISH

Steps:

• On a baking sheet, mix together cornmeal, paprika, cumin, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Dredge fish in cornmeal mixture, turning to coat both sides.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat. Place 2 catfish fillets in the skillet, skin side up. Cook until crust is browned and fish is firm, 6 to 8 minutes on each side. If crust is starting to turn too brown, reduce heat. Transfer fish to a plate; keep warm. Wipe out skillet with a paper towel. Repeat with remaining oil and fish.

PECAN-CRUSTED CATFISH WITH SPICY CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pecan-crusted catfish: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and set aside. Pulse the cornmeal with the pecans and some salt and pepper in a food processor until uniform and the size of breadcrumbs. Create a breading station with the flour on a plate, the milk and egg beaten together and the pecan-cornmeal mixture on another plate. Be sure to sprinkle salt and pepper on each part of the breading station. Dip the fish in the flour, then the egg, then the cornmeal mixture. Heat the oil in a large oven-safe saute pan over medium heat. Brown the coated catfish until golden on one side, about 3 minutes. Then turn the fillets over and place in the oven to finish cooking, about 10 minutes longer (a few minutes more if the fillets are thick).
• For the spicy cream sauce: Place the onions and garlic with the stock, wine and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Boil and reduce for 5 minutes, gently pressing on the onions and garlic to release the flavors. Remove the onion and garlic and discard. Turn down the heat to low and whisk in the steak sauce and lemon juice, then the sour cream. Allow to cook and reduce 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. (Place back on the heat for 10 seconds if needed to keep the temperature high enough.)

WILL'S SPICY NEW ORLEANS CATFISH FRIES

Steps:

• Lay catfish fillet horizontally on cutting board. Cut thin 1/4 inch wide strips from the filet at a 45 degree angle. This is easy if your knife is sharp, and the filet is partly frozen.
• Dust fish strips moderately with cayenne pepper, and gently tumble together to evenly coat all strips. They should look pink all over when you are through. On the Bayou, this is called a dry marinade. Place catfish strips on a plate or pan, and set aside for a few minutes to thaw.
• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Place enough corn flour to bread your catfish on a bowl or plate, and season with salt and black pepper.
• Place thawed catfish into seasoned corn flour, and tumble gently until all strips are evenly coated. Deep fry in hot oil for about 3 minutes, or until done. Fish should be golden brown, slightly crisp outside, and moist and flaky inside when done.

BLACKENED CATFISH AND SPICY RICE

Steps:

• Bring the rice, water, Cajun seasoning, and hot pepper sauce to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While rice is cooking, mix thyme, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dill weed, and lemon pepper in a bowl until well blended. Brush catfish fillets with butter and sprinkle with seasoning mixture other both sides.
• Heat any remaining melted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; pan-fry seasoned catfish in butter until fish is easily flaked with a fork, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Serve catfish over a plate of seasoned rice. Pour leftover butter from the skillet over fish and sprinkle with lemon juice.

HUSHPUPPY-BATTERED CATFISH NUGGETS WITH SPICY TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together hushpuppy mix, milk, water, egg, jalapenos, hot pepper sauce and cayenne; let stand 5 minutes.
• Pour oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a large deep skillet; heat oil to 350 degrees F.
• Pat catfish fillets dry with paper towels, and cut into bite-size pieces. Dredge catfish pieces in flour, and then dip in hushpuppy batter mixture. Drop catfish pieces into hot oil, and fry, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Serve with Spicy Tartar Sauce.
• Stir together all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

SPICY CATFISH TENDERS WITH CAJUN TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Make Tartar Sauce: Stir together all ingredients in a bowl and chill, until ready to serve.
• Prepare fish: Whisk together egg and hot sauce in a wide shallow dish.
• Stir in fish strips and let stand at room temperature at least 10 and up to 30 minutes.
• Pour enough oil into a 4 to 5 quart heavy pot to measure 2 inches and heat over medium heat until thermometer registers 350°F (you can use a fry daddy) Stir flour, cornmeal, salt and Cajun seasoning in another wide shallow dish.
• Fry fish; drain fish well in a colander.
• Dredge one fourth of fish in flour mixture shaking off excess flour, then fry in oil, stirring occasionally with a slotted spoon, until golden brown and just cooked through,1 1/2 to 2 minutes, remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Repeat until all fish is fried.
• Serve hot with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

HUSHPUPPY-BATTERED CATFISH NUGGETS WITH SPICY TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together hushpuppy mix, milk, water, egg, jalapenos, hot pepper sauce and cayenne; let stand 5 minutes.
• Pour oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a large deep skillet; heat oil to 350 degrees F.
• Pat catfish fillets dry with paper towels, and cut into bite-size pieces. Dredge catfish pieces in flour, and then dip in hushpuppy batter mixture. Drop catfish pieces into hot oil, and fry, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Serve with Spicy Tartar Sauce.
• Stir together all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

SPICY CATFISH TENDERS WITH CAJUN TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare fish:
• Whisk together egg and hot sauce in a wide shallow dish. Stir in fish strips and let stand at room temperature at least 10 and up to 30 minutes.
• Pour enough oil into a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot to measure 2 inches and heat over moderate heat until thermometer registers 350°F.
• Stir together flour, cornmeal, salt, and Cajun seasoning in another wide shallow dish.
• Make tartar sauce:
• Stir together all sauce ingredients in a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to serve.
• Fry fish:
• Drain fish well in a colander. Dredge one fourth of fish in flour mixture, shaking off excess, then transfer to oil and fry, stirring occasionally with a slotted spoon, until golden and just cooked through, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 350°F. Repeat procedure with remaining fish strips in 3 batches.
• Serve fish tenders hot with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
• *Available for order: BlueChef (bluechef.com), The Spice Hunter (800-444-3016), and Mc Cormick (AASpices.com).

CATFISH IN SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Purée tomatoes with their juice in a blender. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic, spices, and 3/4 teaspoon salt, stirring, until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Add tomato purée and sugar and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Pour sauce into a 13- by 9-inch baking dish. Pat fish dry and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Arrange fillets in 1 layer on sauce, tucking each tail end under if necessary to fit, and bake until fish is just cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley.

SPICY GRILLED CATFISH

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or preheat the broiler.
• Mix olive oil, lime juice, wine, mustard, chili powder, pepper, cilantro and salt in a medium bowl.
• Transfer half of the marinade mixture to another bowl and reserve for basting catfish.
• Add catfish to the first bowl; marinate for 15 minutes.
• Drain fillets and discard marinade.
• Place fillets on an oiled grill rack or broiler pan rack.
• Grill or broil 4 inches from the heat source, basting with reserved marinade, for about 3 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

SPICY BLACKENED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the paprika, the oregano, the thyme, the cayenne, the sugar, the salt, and the black pepper, pat the catfish dry, and sprinkle the spice mixture on both sides of the fillet, coating them well. In a large skillet sauté the garlic in the oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until it is golden brown and discard the garlic. Add the butter, heat it until the foam subsides, and in the fat sauté the catfish for 4 minutes on each side, or until it is cooked through. Transfer the catfish fillets with a slotted spatula to 2 plates and serve them with the lemon wedges.

SPICY CATFISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir onions and carrots until onions are slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Melt butter with onions and carrots; cook and stir zucchini and garlic in the melted butter until onions are translucent, about 7 more minutes.
• Stir beer, seafood seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, chile-garlic sauce, sea salt, oregano, and black pepper into the vegetable mixture and gently lay catfish fillets over top of vegetables. Pour tomatoes with their juice over the vegetables and catfish. Cover pot and bring to a simmer; cook until catfish are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Break the catfish fillets apart into bite-size chunks.
• Pour in a tomato can of water and stir in corn; simmer the chowder covered until vegetables are tender and flavors have blended, at least 30 more minutes.

BAKED CATFISH IN SPICY BBQ SAUCE

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper. Place fish in an oval casserole dish. Melt butter in small saucepan. Add remaining ingredients and simmer about three minutes. Spoon sauce over fish and cook fish in 375 degree oven for about 10 to 12 minutes (or until done). Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

SPICY CATFISH WITH BELL PEPPERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper. Dust lightly with flour. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish to skillet. Cook until golden brown and just opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer fish to plates. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil, onion and bell peppers to same skillet. Sauté until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add vinegar and jalapeño. Stir 1 minute. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Spoon over fish.

SPICY CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CATFISH

Steps:

• Place fillets in a single layer in a shallow glass dish, Pour milk over the fish; cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare Tangy Tartar Sauce: Whisk mayonnaise, yogurt and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Keep refrigerated.
• Makes 1/2 cup.
• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Combine cornmeal, parsley, garlic and cayenne to taste in a shallow dish.
• Remove the fish from the milk, sprinkle both side with salt and dredge in the cornmeal mixture.
• Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Place the fish on baking sheet and lightly coat the fish with cooking spray.
• Bake until the fish is firm to the touch and opaque in the center, 10-15 minutes.
• Serve immediately with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
• Makes 4 servings.

SPICY GRILLED CATFISH FILLETS

Steps:

• 1. In a 12" skillet, heat olive oil.
• 2. Season fillets with blackened seasoning on both sides of fish. Cook in hot oil for a couple minutes on each side. Blackened seasoning will smoke, so reduce heat to prevent fire alarm from going off. Cook until fish is tender and easily flakes. Remove from heat and place on warmed dinner plate to serve.
• 3. Serve with lemon slices.

SPICY CATFISH WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Sprinkle fish with salt, pepper and cayenne. In a nonstick skillet, cook fish over medium for about 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Top with tomatoes and sprinkle with green onions. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for about 2 minutes. , Cover skillet and simmer 2-3 minutes longer or until liquid is reduced and fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with rice if desired.

SPICY OVEN-BAKED CATFISH

Steps:

• For the fish; wash the fish fillets under cold water, then pat dry with paper towels.
• In a shallow bowl mix together the dry breadcrumbs with seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
• In a bowl whisk or beat egg whites until foamy.
• Dip the fillets into egg whites, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Place the fillets in one layer onto a well-greased wire rack that is set on a large baking sheet.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until fish is golden brown (do not overbake).
• LEMON CREAM SAUCE; in a bowl mix together one 8-ounce container of sour cream (low-fat is okay) 1-2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind, 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and chill until ready to serve.

CAJUN-STYLE FILLET OF CATFISH WITH SPICY BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Rinse fillets and ry well.
• Season each fillet with a mixture of salt, lemon pepper and cayenne.
• Rub oil in a 9x13" glass baking dish.
• Place fillets in prepared baking dish and top fillets with 4 Tablespoons of the melted butter.
• Sprinkle with fresh bread crumbs and 2 Tablespoons of the fresh lemon juice.
• Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 18 minutes, just until fish flakes easily.
• Do not overcook.
• Butter Sauce: Combine all remaining butter and lemon juice with other sauce ingredients, except parsley and lemon slices for garnish.
• Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Place fillets on serving dish, top with butter sauce and garnish with parsley and lemon slices.

CATFISH WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE AND PECANS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°.
• Combine tomatoes, onions, garlic, pecans, cilantro, olive oil, red pepper flakes, lime juice, zest, salt and pepper (to taste) in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Place fillets in a greased baking dish; season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper (to taste); pour tomato mixture over fish and bake until fish begins to flake, about 20 minutes.
• Serve with the lime wedges.