How To Cook Catfish?

Before Jump to The Best Baked Catfish Recipe, Firstly Read about Catfish. Catfish is a very popular type of fish in the United States, particularly in the South. Catfish can be cooked in many ways, depending on your personal preferences and what ingredients you have available to you.

The first step to cooking catfish is to either purchase live catfish from a local source or purchase frozen catfish from a supermarket.

To thaw out the frozen catfish, simply place it in a container under running water until it reaches room temperature. Once the catfish has reached room temperature, it’s ready for cooking. There are several ways to cook live or already-thawed catfish, including baking, frying, grilling, and barbecuing. Let’s look at each method individually:

Baking catfish is a popular way to cook catfish, particularly because it’s easy. All you need are the thawed or live catfish, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and butter. Simply wash your hands thoroughly, then rub each side of the fish with butter. Once that’s done, lightly season each side of the fish with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Place the seasoned fish on a baking sheet in an oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, or until it turns golden brown. Baking catfish doesn’t require any oils or butter, so this is a healthier option than frying. The only downside is how long it takes to bake catfish which can range from 20 minutes to one hour depending on how big your fish is.

Frying catfish requires cooking oil, such as vegetable or corn oil. Wash your hands thoroughly, then season each side of the fish with salt and pepper. Take a cup of milk and pour it into a bowl.

Dip each side of the fish into the milk, then dredge it in flour or breadcrumbs until both sides are coated thoroughly. Once this step is done, put enough oil in a skillet to submerge half of your fish.

Heat the skillet on medium heat for about 15 minutes, then place your fish inside carefully. Fry each side of the catfish until golden-brown, which should take between 10 and 20 minutes depending on how big your pieces are.

Grilling and barbecuing catfish is a wonderful and healthy cooking method. To grill your catfish, simply purchase a fish-shaped grilling basket to hold the fish upright while it cooks.

Fill the bottom of your grill with charcoal, then set it on high heat for 15 minutes. Once ready, place your seasoned catfish into the center of the grill. Grill one side of the fish for five minutes, then flip it over carefully to simultaneously cook both sides of the fish evenly. After another five minutes, remove your grilled catfish from the grill…it should be golden-brown throughout.

Baking, frying, and grilling are all ways you can prepare catfish without using any oils or butter. This is healthier because you aren’t adding any extra fat to your food.

How To Improve The Taste Of Catfish?

Many people are not fans of the taste of catfish. However, there are 10 ways that can be used to improve this situation.

• Rinse The Catfish

Catfish usually have a muddy or earthy taste because they eat plants near the bottoms of rivers and ponds where the soil is more likely to settle. One way to improve the taste is by rinsing off any mud or dirt that may still be on them.

•  Soak In Salt Water

Saltwater will remove any unpleasant fishy tastes from catfish. Then it can be soaked in normal water for 15 minutes before cooking. Allowing it time to soak after removing it from saltwater also ensures that there won’t be too much salt when it is actually cooked.

•  Use Cajun Seasoning

Cajun seasoning is an excellent way to season catfish since it brings out the best in the flavor of this fish. 4-6 tablespoons of cajun seasoning are generally used for one pound of catfish, and 10 minutes should be allowed after seasoning before the fish is placed on a pan or grill.

•  Bake Catfish In Foil Packets With Vegetables And Butter

One simple way to improve the taste of catfish that will guarantee that all who eat it enjoy it is by baking it in foil packets with vegetables such as potatoes, corn, onions, and butter. After cooking until crispy, add lemon juice and serve with tartar sauce for a delicious dinner.

•  Grill Catfish With Seasoning Or Marinade

Another simple way to improve the taste of catfish that is sure to be a hit with everyone who eats it is by grilling it with seasoning or marinade after rinsing off any excess dirt. 10 minutes should be allowed for marinating before cooking on medium heat, ensuring that the fish will be flaky and well-seasoned.

• Cook In Coconut Milk

Catfish can be cooked in coconut milk to make an excellent curry dish. To prepare this, simmer 1 cup of coconut milk along with spices such as coriander, garlic paste, red chili powder, ginger paste, cumin seeds, and black mustard seeds until thickened. Then, add 10 minutes of cooking time for chunks of catfish that have been pre-fried.

•  Cook In Spicy Tomato Sauce

Another way to improve the taste of catfish is by cooking it in a spicy tomato sauce. This only requires 10 minutes of cooking time before adding 2 tablespoons of garam masala powder and 10 more minutes before stirring in fresh coriander leaves.

• Marinate Catfish With Chopped Onions

Chopping up some onions and marinating them with fish not only improves the taste but also makes for an interesting combination of flavors. After 10 minutes, this can be fried on medium heat along with spices such as cumin powder, turmeric powder, chili powder, ginger garlic paste, and coriander leaves.

• Add Batter Before Cooking

Another way to improve the taste of catfish is by dipping it in batter before cooking. 10 minutes should be allowed for the batter to set before frying on medium heat until crispy.

• Frying Catfish With Egg

10 minutes of cooking time are required after coating catfish in flour, egg wash, breadcrumbs, and salt. After frying until golden brown on both sides, lemon juice can be added as a finishing touch. By following these 10 ways to improve the taste of catfish, anyone will enjoy this dish even more than usual! For further information, You may also want to read about What Is Fried Catfish?

The Best Baked Catfish Recipe:

The best-baked catfish recipe is a delicious and healthy dinner choice. The best part of this meal will be enjoyed by all, even those who aren’t huge fans of fish! Catfish has such a mild flavor that it’s easy to add whatever flavors you like best without overpowering the dish.

If your family likes Italian food try adding shredded mozzarella cheese or chopped fresh basil before baking for an amazing cheesy pan-fried effect on top of the crispy breaded catfish fillets (not oily at all!) Serve with freshly steamed broccoli florets and rice pilaf for a complete hearty low-carb gluten-free weeknight dinner everyone can enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided 
• 1 c. cornmeal 
• 1 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
• 4 catfish fillets
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions:

Grab a large baking sheet and drizzle it with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. On another plate, combine cornmeal along with Cajun seasonings before delicately coating your catfish fillets in this mixture so as not to damage their delicate skin or break off any bones from being overworked by an intense oven heathens like me who likes fish cooked crispy at all times (not sorry).

Coat each piece well but don’t press down on them; leave some space between coatings if possible because we want our creaky goodness laid out nicely once they’re done cooking! Place these bad boys onto preheated 425° toastiness for 15 minutes only–don’t forget those fresh cuts while you wait.

Conclusion:

Catfish can be a great choice for dinner because they’re cheap, healthy, and fast to cook. So you have catfish sitting in your freezer but are wondering what to do with it. The truth is that there are unlimited options when it comes to cooking delicious fish.

Catfish can be cooked just about any way you want. Different methods of cooking will result in different textures and flavors, so choose wisely when deciding how to cook your catfish.

If you enjoyed reading this article, You may also want to know about How To Make Catfish Pepper Soup?