Louisiana Fried Catfish Tartar (Printable)
Cajun-seasoned catfish fillets fried golden, served with a tangy homemade tartar sauce, perfect for Southern-style meals.
# What You Need:
→ For the Fried Catfish
01 - 4 catfish fillets (about 6 oz each), skinless
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 2 teaspoons hot sauce (e.g., Tabasco)
04 - 1 cup yellow cornmeal
05 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
06 - 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - Vegetable oil, for frying
→ For the Tartar Sauce
12 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
13 - 2 tablespoons dill pickles, finely chopped
14 - 1 tablespoon capers, chopped
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
16 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
17 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How-To:
01 - Whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce in a shallow dish. Add catfish fillets, ensuring they're fully coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes, up to 1 hour for deeper flavor.
02 - Combine cornmeal, flour, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large plate or shallow bowl.
03 - Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F.
04 - Remove catfish from marinade, letting excess drip off. Dredge fillets in the cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Fry fillets in batches, 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden and crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
06 - Combine mayonnaise, dill pickles, capers, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and parsley in a bowl. Mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Serve fried catfish hot with tartar sauce on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The buttermilk marinade makes the fish impossibly tender while keeping that signature crispy exterior
- Homemade tartar sauce is absurdly simple and puts storebought versions to shame
02 -
- Letting the oil come back to temperature between batches prevents soggy, greasy fish
- Patting the fillets dry before marinating helps the coating actually stick instead of sliding off
03 -
- Keep a splatter screen nearby unless you want your stove decorated with tiny oil speckles
- The coating doubles beautifully if you need to feed a crowd