Hear the catfish sizzle
as you fry up your family this dish for dinner. It's topped off
with a lemony, buttery, mouthwatering sauce.
Catfish with
Peanuts, Green Onions & Bacon Pan Butter
4 boneless catfish fillets,
skins removed
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive or peanut oil, divided use
7 bacon slices, cut in 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup butter, chilled , cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons lemon juice
8 green onions, trimmed and sliced
8 ounces raw, unsalted peanuts, lightly roasted, skins removed
1 lemon, quartered
- Lightly season catfish
fillets with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together
eggs and buttermilk. In another bowl, mix together cornmeal and
flour. Dip catfish fillets in egg mixture then roll in cornmeal/flour
mixture to coat; set aside.
- Heat a sauté pan
on low heat. Add oil and bacon. Stir and cook until bacon is
partially cooked. Remove bacon from pan, set aside, and strain
oils into a clean bowl. Reserve for frying fish.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
Warm 4 plates.
- Heat a skillet large enough
to hold 4 fillets. Add some of the reserved oil and allow it
to get hot. Add fillets and gently shake pan. Cook fillets until
golden on both sides, turning once. Add more oil as necessary.
Remove excess fat and put pan into oven for 2 minutes.
- Remove catfish to warm
plates. Wipe out pan and reheat it to almost smoking point. Working
rapidly, add butter and then immediately add lemon juice, green
onions, and most of the peanuts, shaking pan. Swirl pan evenly
over heat.
- Pour sauce over fish and
sprinkle with remaining peanuts and reserved bacon. Serve with
lemon wedges.
Makes 4 servings.