Fried Catfish
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I’m not a big seafood person. Beyond fried catfish, I have never even given seafood a fighting chance. We never had it in our home and I’ve never ordered it at a restaurant. The reasoning for this is really a simple one: Other than catfish, my mother was not a seafood person.
When your mama don’t like it, don’t nobody get it!
My mother’s grandfather was a very superstitious man and back in the day there was an old wive’s tale that it wasn’t safe to eat fish unless you drank buttermilk with it because if you accidentally swallowed a bone, they believed the buttermilk would dissolve it. Of course we know this isn’t true but my mother says her disliking of buttermilk kept fish out of her diet until her grandfather finally said he thought it would be okay if the kids drank “sweet milk” with their fish. Sweet milk is the old fashioned term for whole milk. If you ever want to know why they called whole milk sweet, just drink a glass of buttermilk and you’ll have your answer!
A lot of people outside and inside of the South tend to blanket all southern cooking styles into one category but Southern food really has a lot of variances and relies heavily on what is available in each region. Our ancestors ate what was convenient, just like everyone else. Seeing as how my people can down from the Carolinas to be among the first settlers in the Tennessee Valley, it makes sense that we wouldn’t cook in the same style as a coastal Southerner.
Growing up, all of the catfish we ate was pond raised on my Papa Reed’s farm. He went once a year and got “fingerlings” (baby catfish) to stock his pond with. He’d feed them regularly throughout the year until they got big enough to be table worthy. Then, he’d drain the pond until the water was about waist deep and some of the men in the family would get in and stretch a net across and walk the length of the pond to catch the fish. Each family could get what they wanted and the rest were sold to restaurants and such by the pound.
Most of my personal memories of eating catfish are at the family table, sitting beside my brother and sister and giggling when someone’s lemon “misfired” and shot juice on someone else. Catfish is a “clean” tasting fish. It doesn’t really taste or smell at all like some seafood does (a plus if you aren’t a seafood person!). Simple and inexpensive to prepare, this is a quick and easy main course and I promise not to make you drink buttermilk with it!
You’ll need: Oil for frying in, a bit of salt, a bit of pepper, and corn meal.
You can use whichever corn meal you prefer. I like white corn meal. My mother uses white self rising and just puts in a little less salt (self rising already has salt in it). You can use yellow plain or self rising corn meal as well. When in doubt, go with what you have on hand. No sense in going out and spending more money!
I’m not a Martha White devotee by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just what hopped into my buggy first. 
You’ll need some catfish fillets. Pond raised is good if possible.
Pour about a half inch of oil into your skillet. I’m using my cast iron skillet here but you don’t have to.
If you are more comfortable cooking in a regular or nonstick skillet, go for it.
Whatever cranks your tractor
Put about a cup of corn meal in a bowl.
This is where you can get creative if you like.
Add a bit of cayenne pepper if you want some heat to your catfish, or just season your meal with seasoned salt.
As for me and mine, I like to keep it simple.
Add a little salt (about 1/2 tsp)
and about 1/2 tsp pepper. This is totally to your taste.
Now my meal is seasoned just fine for me. Stir that up a bit.
Dip your fillet into the mixture and press down gently.
Repeat with other side.
Place in hot oil.
This is the part that gives folks the most problems. When frying, your oil should be hot enough to sear the outside of what you are cooking but not so hot that it burns before it gets done inside. If your oil isn’t hot enough, whatever you are frying will absorb more in absence of that immediate searing and thus be greasy.
What I do is heat my oil while I am preparing the dish. I heat it on medium high for three to five minutes and then I turn it down to medium a minute or so before I’m ready to cook with it. Don’t worry, you’ll get the feel for it, I promise!
Let cook until browned and then turn over to brown the other side.
Once done, place fillets on paper towel lined plate to drain.
I serve mine with lemon wedges. I LOVE to squeeze lemon all over my catfish.
Hushpuppies are a must, but that is a tutorial for another day!
Fried Catfish
- Catfish Fillets (I made 4 for this recipe)
- 1 Cup corn meal (type of your choice – see tutorial for more info)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
In large skillet, heat 1/2 inch of oil over medium high heat. Place corn meal in medium bowl. Add salt and pepper, stir. Dip each fillet into the breading on both sides to coat. Turn stove eye down to medium. Place each fillet in oil and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides. Remove to drain on paper towel lined plate. Serve with lemon wedges, vinegar, or tartar sauce.
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More posts to check out on Southern Plate:
- Granny Jordan’s Frozen Cranberry Banana Salads
- Easy Chicken And Dumplings
- Chocolate Cobbler
- View the complete index of over 200 of my family’s recipes here.
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My husband and I both love fish, can’t wait to try this.
Thanks Christy!
Thank you! What types of fish do y’all normally eat?
As a non-seafood person I’m pretty scarce in my knowledge of that so I’m curious!
Gratefully,
Christy
We normally eat anytype of a white fish like Tapilta (sorry, not sure if it spelled right) or Orange Pekoe. Last year at our State Fair my husband tried some catfish and has been wanting some more every since then.
Raquel
I’m looking forward to watching you on recorded TV!
Are you in the viewing area? If not, it should be available online soon!
I’m actually doing it live tonight! Never done live tv before but I guess there is nothing like just jumping right on in! lol
Gratefully,
Christy
I’m soooo excited for her too, Carol! Christy, my tummy is all nervous right now just thinking of your moments just before “air-time”. With your quick thinking skills and quick wit, I know you will just give a cute giggle, then cover any snafu’s. Good luck! Lov ya.
Oh, be sure that you don’t drink a soft drink before going on camera, loud belches aren’t too controllable with a mic attached to your collar. ;-}
Gee Terry, ummm…thanks.
@,@
I’m not nervous at all, would hate to mess that up!
Gratefully,
Christy
We will be there with you all the way, but have no doubt, you will be great on tv.
That’s so funny that your mom hates buttermilk – my mom loves the stuff! All of us kids kind of wonder why, we don’t find it all that tasty… My mom’s also the reason that I never tried fruitcake until last year – she didn’t like it, so she never ever served it. I tried it and love it!
This catfish looks so good! I’m a seafood person sometimes (not always) so my tastes do extend beyond fried catfish, but boy, sometimes the simple things, like fried fish with lemon, just hit the spot!
Yum! I adore catfish and I’ve been waiting for this post ever since you mentioned it on Facebook. Turns out we both do our catfish the exact same way. You can’t go wrong with simplicity!
Now I’m off to the store for some buttermilk! Suddenly I feel the need for a really big glass.
Down here in South Alabama on the bay, we are BIG seafood people. In fact, we are having Speckled Trout Almondine tonight. I love fried catfish and the buttermilk story reminds me of my grandparents. They used to watch TV and dip cornbread in buttermilk as a “snack” after dinner. Surprisingly , neither one was overweight and my grandmother cooked with Crisco every chance she got. Thanks for the recipe!
My grandparents made of meal of milk and bread. Break up cornbread in a glass, cover with “sweet” milk.
I love just about any kind of seafood. I even love catfish, but the only thing about catfish, is when u buy it from the store, they sometimes don’t get all the fat off and when you bite into that grey/black stuff it tastes like dirt! So I’d suggest cutting that off. When u catch catfish out of a river, for some reason u don’t get that flavor of dirt! *shrugs* Just something I’ve relized. My hubby says it has something to do with them being pond raised, is why they taste like dirt. So be sure to clean it really well. Nothing like biting to dirt!
I couldn’t help but notice the Corning Ware plate in your photos. It is the same pattern that my grandmother had. Seeing it brought back fond memories.
The same cornmeal mixer you have here can be used when frying green tomatoes and okra.
The Corelle is Spring blossom Green. it was the first set of Corelle I ever bought and my ex-husband still uses it daily.
We’ve been eating a lot of tilapia at our house – another clean tasting white fish, usually pretty inexpensive. Even my “I don’t like fish” youngest loves it because it doesn’t taste fishy.
I can buy it frozen in big bags at Sam’s.
We DO love a fish in the South, don’t we? Nothing is much easier to fix and more satisfying than fried fish, coleslaw and a plate of baked beans. YUMMMMMM Oh yeah,,,GOT to have them hushpuppies to be sure! Thanks for all the great recipes and inspiration you give us.
MmMmMmMmM….boy does that sound good!!
I am definitely not a fish person…unless it’s catfish or flounder.
I was actually on vacation with my grandparents in mississippi when I first tried catfish. We were at this little diner right outside of Tunica and my Granny ordered it…she made me try it and low and behold I loved it. I have tried to make it ever since then….but I think I have the temp of my oil wrong and it comes out too greasy. I am going to try your heating method and give it another go.
Now you’ve got me wantin’ catfish for lunch. Thanks Christy!
I love any kind of seafood, catfish being my favorite! I make it sometimes at home but when we dine at a restaurant, I eat it alot! I love fishing with my hubby and kids!
A southern friend of mine gave me a buttermilk tip! Soak any meat, chicken, pork etc. in buttermilk before cooking and the meat will be so tender. I decided to try it and boy was she right. I soaked some beef cube steaks before cooking and they were so tender.
Not very fond of catfish, all of it I have ever had tasted funky, like mold..ewww! But I like cod, trout, tilapia, etc. I like a good firm whitefish and love salmon. I am a seafood eater, was introduced to it at an early age and love it.
As for buttermilk, don’t drink it, but I do cook with it.
My stepdad loved this one buttermilk that actually had “chunks” of butter in it, and when I had to get him a glass of it I would gag, it PLOP into the glass, it was so gross! Couldn’t even look at it when I was pregnant with my son.
Hi Christy! Just wanted to tell you how much I love your recipes! They really bring back memories.
I come from a long line of catfish lovers. We had many fishing days with fish fries in the evenings growing up. My uncle built a cabin and lake which he stocked with catfish. We still have the lake but it has been restocked with bass and crappie. The old cabin had to be torn down but we built a new one that is still a wonderful place for cookouts and wonderful memories for my family.
My mother loved buttermilk. Once I accidentally took a swig from her glass and I was careful not to make that mistake again. I love to cook with buttermilk…cornbread, biscuits, cake batters and so on but can’t even stand the thought of drinking it. I’ll happily stick with sweet milk.
On the subject of your grandfather’s old wives tale about drinking milk with fish, I had always heard growing up that it was bad to drink milk with fish because of the proteins in the fish and milk weren’t compatable or something. It never bothered me one way or the other because I always drank tea with my fish and still do.
I also have to comment on your Corell dish in the top picture. My sister got that pattern to use as her “every day dishes” when she married… *cough* ….a few years ago.
I have a set of Corell too except my pattern is ‘Old Town Blue’.
The only fish, except shellfish, we eat is catfish. Maybe because it doesn’t taste like fish–not fishy. My father would always drink a glass of buttermilk before heading out to the local “fish camp” for dinner because he felt it coated his stomach lining so as not to get indigestion from all the fried fare. Apparently it worked.
Thanks Christy,
I also don’t like seafood at all. I will eat fried fish but that’s about it. However, I do like tuna fish drowned in mayonnaise, pickles, and shredded apples! That’s how my Mama made it. I think with me it’s a texture thing with seafood. My kids love it but not me! Living in southeast Texas I can get to Galveston in about 2 hours or to a nice lake within minutes. So my sons fish a lot and we fry all different kinds of fish. Thanks for the recipe!!
Oh Christy, I love fried catfish! I don’t often get to eat it here in California. So, when I visit my folks in Missouri and Arkansas, that’s all I want to eat. hehe The catfish you buy in the local stores here taste like mud! So, I’ve learned to like the local seafood, which is fresher, since I live on the central coast.
Good luck on your show tonight!
Growing up we weren’t fish people either–and we still aren’t! We would occassionally have a big fish fry though. My daddy always would catch crappy (pronounced crop-ee) or bass and fillet them. My momma would soak the fillets in salt water overnight to make sure that they didn’t taste fishy. I always loved my momma’s fish!! Most of the time we would only have catfish if we went to a restaurant. I remember giggling about the “misfiring” lemons, too!! LOL
Oh my goodness, it is so perfectly fried. Just perfect. Not a bit of the coating has fallen off. It’s just wonderful.
This looks soooo good – but I can’t eat fried catfish without hush puppies, so I’m gonna’ have to wait until you post that tutorial!
You have my mouth watering today! Living in MA, catfish is not on the menus except at Cracker Barrel. I can not wait to get moved to AR the last week of August and get to partake in fried catfish on a regular basis!
Although I admit to having developed a taste for fried cod and haddock while living up here nothing compares to catfish in my book.
Christy,
I wish I could try this. But, I’ll eat just about any other seafood, but I don’t care for catfish. Just the opposite of you…go figure. With that said, we didn’t have much seafood growing up (in New Orleans) because my mom was alergic to seafood…except for fish & oysters. But, she only cooked red fish on New Year’s Day and we had oyster dressing at the holidays. Go figure!
Hi,
I make my fried fish the same way, but sometimes I add a little Old Bay to the mix and it gives it a wonderful flavor. I use flounder, bass, whiting, etc.
Can’t wait for the hushpuppy recipe.
Thanks so much,
Maria
Personally I don’t care for fish. My husband LOVES it. Fishing poles in hand he takes the kids out to the lakes, rivers, streams and ponds in our area to catch them fresh. Trout is what he prefers but seems to like it all. He even took me out ocean fishing for our anniversary once, lol!
Girl, you know we love our catfish over here in Mississippi! Belzoni even goes so far as to say that they are the catfish capital of the world!! Now, me, you know I get fresh seafood down here so I love the stuff, and I’d venture to say that folks who are eating the frozen stuff, especially the foreign stuff, haven’t really even tasted “real” seafood. Your catfish is similar to mine except I like just a bit of SR flour in the cornmeal for catfish. And a bit of Cajun seasoning.
Now, I’ll have a plate please. You got me cravin’ it LOL!!
Watch out Paula Christy is in the house. Have a wonderful television debut my friend. I eat my fish broiled or steamed.
I love fried catfish. I add cayenne and garlic powder in the dry mix. It’s great with mashed potatoes and corn on the side. Gimme some steaming hot shrimp with garlic butter or seafood sauce to dip it in any day! I love most seafood.. cep’t I wont eat oysters on the half shell for no amount of money.. it’s disgusting and makes me feel like I got a bad cold if ya catch my drift…yuck.
When I was young, my mother would make catfish and would scare the tar outta me with her warnings about the bones. Wern’t no such thing as boneless fillets back then.
You will do excellent on TV sweetie! So excited for you and everything happening!
The picture just make the fish look delectable , but I really have never been able to eat fish. I always thought it was because we never had good fresh fish when growing up in SE Ohio and when my mom served it it was a frozen block with little needle bones in it and sometimes black looking skin. So nasty that I still feel nauseous just thinking of it. When I moved to FL everyone told me I would love fresh fish, especially grouper, but it never happened. My only seafood adventure is shrimp and I do love it- boiled or fried.I don’t do buttermilk either as it just looks like soured milk to me. My parents liked it and I remeber them adding a sprinkle of black pepper on top of their serving.
hey christy,
i luv salt/pepper catfish served in restaurants, but have never fixed it…do u just add a little more pepper?
Fried catfish is about the only FISH I really care for. Like you said, it tastes CLEAN and not “fishy”.
We didn’t eat seafood, except for shrimp, when I was a kid either, so it wasn’t until I was old enough to buy it on my own that I got to try it.
I’ve had some Mahi-Mahi that I liked alright, but the rest I’ve tried I’m just not crazy about.
I DO like shrimp, crablegs, and lobster, but I don’t do clams, oysters, or mussels.
I wanted to go on to add a few more things.
1. You are right – if Mama don’t like it, no one gets any! So true!!!
2. I wish that I DID like more different kinds of fish because it’s so healthy for you, but I just don’t.
3. And I do remember one NON-catfish dish I had at a restaurant once that I was so surprised that I loved: Paneed (don’t remember which accent mark to use) Redfish at Copeland’s. It was divine.
Thank you so much for this wonderful idea. My husband and his siblings talk about chocolate gravy all the time. Now I have a gift to give all of them for Christmas.
I also wish to thank you for sharing so much with us.
Melissa
When I was growing up, we used to go with friends (when we visited South Carolina) to this little restaurant by a pond(real local catfish!!) and had delicious fried catfish and hush puppies! I’ve never attempted making it myself but I think I have to now! I’ll have to see if I can find some good catfish here in Ct.!!!
Thank you for stirring up some fond (and yummy) memories!
Looking forward to seeing your live TV debut as soon as it’s online! I know it will be terrific!
Bountiful Blessings!
Christy,
Saw you on 31 this evening…”SUPER STAR”!!!!!!!!!!!!
You were so calm and collected… you are a natural girl!!!!
Can’t wait to see you each week. Had to do a little dance when you got done..”GO CHRISTY…GO CHRISTY..GO CHRISTY!!!!”
Love fish, don’t fry much,either bake or poach in white wine. love raw oysters,with hot sauce and cold beer. love trout or salmon with lemon. Do good on tv. wish I could see from N.C.
My parents both liked to fish so we had fish often. It was so good when it was cooked over a camp fire just shortly after being caught.
They mostly fished for catfish and trout.
I’m not from the south (not even the southern part of Denver) but this is the same way my mom cooked catfish. We were introduced to hushpuppies by my brother in law (who is very southern). He came from North Carolina. They make this meal perfection.
Mom and Dad both loved buttermilk but I never could develop a taste for it.
I can’t wait for the hush puppy recipe! Nobody even knows what hush puppies are where I live. Isn’t that shameful? I bet you were fabulous on TV tonight. Can’t wait till it’s on the web so I can watch.
Thanks,
Susan
Its funny that your grandfather INSISTED on the dairy – in our family, dairy was absolutely NOT consumed with fish. But we were always supposed to eat a slice of bread in case anyone swallowed a bone.
I always wondered why they they served the same old milk at school with tuna salad or fish sticks, when it would make you sick at home if you ate them together. LOL
Christy, I so wish I could have watched you “live” on tv today. I can’t wait to see it on line.
I love all kinds of fish. I do it the “eye-talian” way, seasoned bread crumbs and served with a side of spaghetti on Fridays during lent. Just like Mom used to do.
I have never had catfish and I am looking forward to trying it, just as soon as you post how to make hushpuppies.
I know you were great today!
Pond raised catfish is good, but river catfish is nasty tasting! Like mud. They are bottom feeders and eat all the stuff that lands on the bottom. That is why I like the pond raised, grain fed catfish. Christy, your fish looked just beautiful! Makes me hungry for it. I’ve never had luck with making hush puppies, so I look forward to getting that. Our church is having a fish fry next month to honor an older member and my husband is helping cook. Now I can tell him how!
You’ve hit on my most favorite of all fish dishes! I’m so happy to see this post and can’t wait to go get some catfish to try this out on! Usually, when I’ve really been in the mood for it, I’d buy it ready-made…or just beg Dad to make it! ^_^ Now that I realize just how simple it is, I’m going to give it a go.
Thanks so much for sharing this.
I love fried catfish. I have it at least once a week. Love the resturants that bring you hush puppies while you wait for your food.
Christie, my husband was not a seafood eater either until I came along after he was over 40 years old. I had to teach him to eat it. Oh my goodness, it can be so healthy for you. Have you ever tried crab cakes? Now, I’ll admit it’s almost impossible to find a decent crab cake in a resaurant, but homemade is a completely different story. With that said, if you are willing to try a recipe for HOMEMADE crabcakes I will gladly ship you some FRESH blue crabmeat from right here in Pensacola Florida. Don’t worry it will arrive fresh as can be. We have a real treasure in our town called JOE PATTIS SEAFOOD. They have a great website. They ship all over the country. I have shipped shrimp, crab and oysters to friends, and they are all still alive after eating it! Please consider taking me up on this offer. I’ll furnish my recipe that is a favorite of all who eat it. Besides, you don’t want your babies growing up telling folks that don’t eat seafood because MAMA didn’t! Just let me know.
That looks so yummy! I’ve never had catfish before. They look scary.
I’ve been craving fish tacos lately though!
[...] Fried Catfish | Southern Plate [...]
Hey C,I just want to tell y’all I’ve fixed about all of the recipes that you send out and guess what? All of em have have been winners,the neighboors just love your country casserole,in fact they love all your casserole’s they are soooo easy and just fun to make.:)..ole Harold fromm Floyd Va
I am loving this website so much for the wonderful recipes and the wonderful conversation,too. I am not much of a fish eater except for good catfish. Growing up in rural Mississippi, Daddy would buy it fresh from the river at the local store, skin and clean it (how the cat loved that as he got the roe and innards, Mama washed, seasoned and mealed it then it went into hot grease still a flapping. She hated that part as the fish splattered grease everywhere. We had buttermilk growing up but I have never developed a taste for it. When I need it, I add 1 T. white vinegar to 1 cup sweet milk then let it set for 5 minutes; works just like buttermilk. Also, King Arthur’s flour website has a powdered butter milk that is great for baking, cooking. Anyway, this puts me in the mood for some fried fish; maybe make this this weekend when I’m off work. I want to make the chicken salad recipe, too.
I bought catfish filets today, and was debating on whether to go back out and get the buttermilk, my mom didn’t use it, and I have never, but for some reason I though I should. But thanks goodness for your great memory of these old traditions, when i read the reason for the buttermilk, I remembered hearing that before. Its funny the traditions I read on your site are exactly the same as my families and we were about 40 miles from the coast between panama and dothan, but the coast was too far away to have any influence on them. My granny never left the few miles around her house cause she could not cross rail road tracks, so she was trapped in about a 14 mile radius of land. The only seafood we ever got was mullet, now i can’t find it. Now for a good fish fry!