Pat's Pan-fried Catfish

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 3
• 6 medium catfish fillets (no skin)
• 2 cups flour, divided
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon table salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon dried fennel (optional)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups crisco shortening

Recipe

• 1 dry your catfish filets with paper towels.
• 2 pour 1 cup of the flour on a plate and "dust" the filets and set them aside on another plate for about half an hour. (this process helps to keep the coating on the fish as they fry).
• 3 next, heat the shortening in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• 4 set up a shallow medium-sized bowl and a dinner plate for "drenching" and "dredging" the fillets.
• 5 in the bowl, break the eggs and beat them a bit, then add the buttermilk and the lemon juice and whisk these ingredients a few seconds until blended.
• 6 on the plate, pour the remaining cup of flour, cornmeal, garlic salt, thyme, table salt, baking soda, and fennel (if you're using it). mix it up with a fork or with your fingers.
• 7 dip a fillet into the liquid, coating it totally, and then allow it to drip off a bit. then, roll it carefully in the flour/cornmeal mix until it is coated all over. carefully lay the fillet in the hot oil. it should start frying immediately -- if not, your oil is not hot enough!
• 8 repeat this process until you have half of the fillets in the pan. you don't want to crowd them so plan on doing the fish in two separate batches.
• 9 when the fillets have turned a golden brown on the bottom side, carefully turn them to fry the other side. remove them to a plate with some paper towels on it once they are golden brown all over (about 3-4 minutes for each side). (the fillets should be snow- in the thick portion of the fillet, and the meat should "flake apart" when pulled apart with a fork).
• 10 serve either as a sandwich, or, plate up the fish with side dishes (i like good coleslaw and baked beans with my catfish). a tangy tartar sauce is also good with fried catfish. enjoy!
• 11 note: pan-fried catfish makes an excellent breakfast, along with fried potatoes, when you're camping!