Crispy And Tasty Zatarain’s Fried Catfish Recipe

Zatarain’s Fried Catfish Recipe is an iconic recipe that I love and know you will too. I’ve set out to share a crispy, tasty, and healthy recipe with you.

And if you’re wondering what small-batch Zatarain’s is like, this recipe is a testament to their commitment to doing it right.

I don’t know about you, but in my mind, it’s the food that represents an experience, and the experience of eating the food is why we are here. That last taste says I made something special, a real dish to be remembered.

And I hope this recipe will inspire you to make a few more from-scratch memorable dishes for your family to enjoy.

Zatarain’s Fried Catfish Recipe

Prepare Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Recipe Ingredients

  • 4 catfish fillets
  • 1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • Oil for frying (use peanut oil if you can)
  • 1 Cup Fish Flour Zatarain’s Fry
  • 1 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
  • Salt
Zatarain's Fried Catfish Recipe Ingredients
Zatarain’s Fried Catfish Recipe Ingredients

Step By Step Instructions

Step-1: First, prepare a batter. Add fish flour, chili powder, and salt to a bowl.

Step-2: Add ginger garlic paste, lemon juice, and a little water.

Step-3: Mix well until you make a smooth batter. It should be slightly thick but runny enough to coat the fish fillet easily. If you add too much water, add more fish flour to thicken it.

Step-4: Now dip each catfish fillet in the batter so that it is coating evenly on both sides and set aside for about half an hour to allow the batter to stick onto the fish fillet.

Step-5: Then dunk your catfish fillet in a pan of hot oil so that both sides are coated evenly.

Step-6: Fry the fish for about half a minute per side, and then flip it over to fry for another half a minute. Finally, remove from the oil and serve immediately.

Zatarain's Fried Catfish Recipe
Zatarain’s Fried Catfish Recipe

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

NutritionAmount
Calories881
Carbohydrates11.3g
Fat3.2g
Fiber1.1g
Iron4.9mg
Protein42.8g
Sodium792mg
Cholesterol211.3mg

Which Oil Is Best For Frying Fish?

You can use any oil to fry your fish in, but if you want to avoid the risk of ruining your fried fish with bad oil, here are a few suggestions.

Use peanut oil for frying fish, and be careful if you use vegetable oil because it will make the food taste funny, and it’s not the best choice for frying food. But use it if you want to.

Do You Season Fish Before Frying?

You may want to season your fish before you fry it. It’s a personal choice, and there are reasons that some people season their fish while others don’t.

The two most common reasons are the risk of changing the taste of the fish and that you will have fried fish after frying and seasoning it at the same time have a negative effect on both.

However, if you like your fried catfish seasoned, go for it, but if not, then just skip this step. You can also just a season before cooking or at room temperature so that your seasoning is fresh tasting when you eat it.

How Do I Know When Fried Fish Is Done?

It is difficult to say whether your fish is done or not. There isn’t really a foolproof way to tell without scientific equipment.

While you fry your fish, it will change color, and when it is cooked, the color should look even brown all over. The white parts of the fish should be opaque but clear.

However, this method doesn’t work on catfish because they have no white meat and tend to get a little crispy regardless of their healthiness, so they can actually overcook by getting rubbery.

How To Serve Fried Catfish?

Enjoy while it’s hot with a dip or sauce such as tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or lemon pepper sauce.

You may also fry and serve on top of a wedge of bread accompanied by coleslaw. Or enjoy cold with coleslaw, tomato slices, cucumber slices, and some cocktail sauce.

Conclusion

Zatarain’s Fried Catfish Recipe is a fabulous dish that you absolutely must try! It is filled with ginger, garlic, and lemon flavors that will simply hit the spot. I hope you enjoy it and share your feedback with me in the comments below.

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Author & Recipe Developer at Naznin's Kitchen
Hello! I'm Naznin Aktar, the food enthusiast and recipe developer at Naznin's Kitchen. Want to turn everyday ingredients into extraordinary dishes? Explore Naznin's Kitchen for a collection of recipes that are sure to inspire your inner chef and delight your loved ones.
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