Description
Crispy, golden, and perfectly seasoned—this Southern-style fried fish is comfort food at its finest. Whether it’s catfish or flounder, this recipe delivers that classic fish fry flavor every time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 fillets of white fish (catfish, tilapia, flounder, or whiting)
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying (peanut, canola, or vegetable oil)
- Optional: 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Optional: 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- Optional: Hot sauce (to splash on fillets before coating)
Instructions
- Rinse the fish and pat it dry lightly, leaving them damp enough for cornmeal to stick.
- Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper on both sides. Add cayenne for heat if desired.
- Place cornmeal in a large Ziploc bag. Add seasoned fillets, seal, and shake gently to coat. Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Heat 2–3 inches of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat to 350°F.
- Fry 1–2 fillets at a time for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve hot with lemon or hot sauce, and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Avoid crowding the skillet to keep the coating crispy. Use fresh white fish if possible, and let the cornmeal coating rest before frying for best results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Fried
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 65mg