Catfish Poppers With Spicy Dipping Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the salt, Cajun seasoning and flour in a bowl.
• In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
• First dredge the fish in the flour, then dip in the eggs and finally dredge in the breadcrumbs.
• Fry the catfish pieces in about 1/2" of oil heated to 375 degrees.
• Fry about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
• Drain and serve with the Spicy Dipping Sauce.
• Spicy Dipping Sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, cocktail sauce, lemon juice, red pepper and Old Bay in a bowl.
• Chill, covered, until ready to serve with the poppers.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the marinade: Combine the balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, thyme and garlic in a small mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside until ready for use.
• For the peppers: Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onions and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the peppers and continue to cook to just get a little color on the vegetables, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and saute until just fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• For the catfish: Take four 12- by 12-inch sheets of parchment paper and place on a clean work surface. Working with one packet at a time, begin by folding a piece of parchment paper in half to make a crease down the middle. Open it back up and spoon about 1/3 cup of sauteed peppers and onions onto the middle of the parchment paper. Place a fillet of fish on top. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the marinade over the top and sprinkle with salt, pepper and a pinch of paprika for color. Fold the parchment back over the fish to enclose. Working from one corner and around the fish to the other corner, make small folds that overlap one another so the packet gets tightly sealed. Continue to fold crease over crease until the packet is sealed. Tuck the last fold under the packet to hold in place.
• Repeat with all four packets, and then place on a sheet tray and into the oven. Bake until the packets puff up completely, 10 to 12 minutes.
• To serve: Open the parchment packet tops with scissors and garnish with parsley, scallions and lemon wheels.

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.

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).