Catfish Nuggets

Any cookbook can tell you to batter,or meal them in fishfry.

Cook at 350º,until they float.

Drain on racks,or brown paper grocery bags.

To smoke,marinate in Ital salad dressing and some cayenne for about an hr.

Smoke at 200-220ºº with the smoke already rolling in a preheated smoker,for about 45-60 mins with a couple oz wood of choice.

Size will dictate how long they take to finish.

If they aren't done enough,cook another 45 mins.

Here is what I batter my fish in to fry. And I feed 75+ at a time 2 times a year. And everyone always loves them/
2 cups self rising Corn meal
1 cup self rising Flower
4 table spoons of black pepper
3 table spoons of salt
Dash of garlic powder
Mix all above well and then put in 1 gallon zip lock bag. Or paper bag if you have one.

Take fish and dry on paper towels, Then drop a hand full into the cooking oil Temp on oil around 360 degrees. Let fish cook until it floats and when the bubble around the fish slow down. Take out and lay on paper towels and keep on cooking.
I have cooked in a few restaurants in West Tn that does fish. One is the Catfish hotel at Shiloh park.
Also have a great Hush puppy recipe that has been in our family for three generations if you would like it.

Enjoy.
Pete

quote:

Also have a great Hush puppy recipe that has been in our family for three generations if you would like it.

Pete, if you'd be willin' to share, I'd be beholden to ya. I been lookin' for a good hush puppy recipe. TIA.

I sure would like the hush puppy recipe. In my military excursion into the south and I developed a good hankerin for hush puppies. They served them with tartar sauce in Augusta, Ga. What else do you dip them in?

Doing a little more net research I found someone mentioning Everglades Seasoning to baskically kick up tnpete's recipe. I was wondering like what it might taste like, say using Old Bay as a basis?

This will make enough hush Puppy's for around 4 people.
Take 2 cups of self rising corn meal
one cup self rising flower
one egg
3 onion average yellow onions chopped
6 to 8 Table spoons of black pepper
Dash of salt
Dash of garlic powder
Liquid I use beer . If you do not use beer use milk
In a bowl mix flower meal and salt pepper and garlic powder together.
Then the egg and onions. Mix well then add no more liquid then you have to.
The mix needs to be thick.
I drop mine by hand.
But do yours any way you can.
They will float when done and turn brown.
Also if you like hot and spicy ones. I also mix one batch with dried hot peppers mix in what you like. I use 3 table spoons full in mine.
Pete

You can add what ever you like to it. That is just a standard mix.
Some people add red pepper to it.
That is what is great about cooking. Everyones taste is not the same.

Pete

quote:

Originally posted by RendezvousQ:
I sure would like the hush puppy recipe. In my military excursion into the south and I developed a good hankerin for hush puppies. They served them with tartar sauce in Augusta, Ga. What else do you dip them in?

Doing a little more net research I found someone mentioning Everglades Seasoning to baskically kick up tnpete's recipe. I was wondering like what it might taste like, say using Old Bay as a basis?

Pete,
This sounds so close to what we use for hushpuppies. We usually used whatever breading was left after the fish or shrimp were breaded and added onion, egg, pepper, sometimes more flour.....it could go on forever. The oil being hot before the batter is put in is very important. Otherwise, you can heat a cast iron pan in a 450 oven until a water drop makes steam, then oil it and add the batter and make a delicious cornbread. Mix another egg in the batter. you'll have puffy cornbread if you're using the self rising mix.

The beer, Or wild turkey will give it a great taste.
And I always mix mine up and let the batter set for an hour or so before cooking them/
Pete

Pete, thanks for sharin' the recipe. Will give 'er a try ASAP.

Well, I fried up a batch of catfish nuggets basically using the tnpete recipe. Finally catfish that tasted like fish. There was a little of that lawyer fish taste but still very good.

The dumb chef also tried the Hush Puppies but for some reason forgot to add the egg and they fried apart and I had to completely clean the fryer. So they will have to wait till next time.

Lawyer fish taste?

What's the difference between a catfish and a lawyer? One swims around in dirty, muddy water filled with all sorts of detestable things, the other is a fish!

Glad you liked it. That is the way we have cooked them for way to many years.
That has even been through 3 restaurants..

Yes the hush puppy's have to have the Egg or its not going to bind.
Pete

quote:

Originally posted by RendezvousQ:
Well, I fried up a batch of catfish nuggets basically using the tnpete recipe. Finally catfish that tasted like fish. There was a little of that lawyer fish taste but still very good.

The dumb chef also tried the Hush Puppies but for some reason forgot to add the egg and they fried apart and I had to completely clean the fryer. So they will have to wait till next time.

Lawyer fish taste?

What's the difference between a catfish and a lawyer? One swims around in dirty, muddy water filled with all sorts of detestable things, the other is a fish!

Pete, I've fried fish in a corn meal flour mix for years but never using the self rising variety. Does that make the coating to puff up a little? TIA.

I have enjoyed soaking catfish fillets or nuggets in whole cultured buttermilk overnite before mealing them and frying them.Great taste.

For frying, try Shore Lunch Cajun Fish Fry. Salt them immediately after pulling them out of the oil (so the salt will stick). Use just milk, rather than egg or wash.

Since I discovered this stuff a few years ago, I've completely abandoned making my own breading.

Living next to what used to be the largest man made mud puddle in the world,I've tried alot of commercial fish breading in my day.

I have to agree with Heavy Doody, Shore Lunch is the best!

As far as I know it does not or has never made it puff up. Just adds more flavor to the fish.
Sorry for taking so long to reply. Thought I had .
Pete

quote:

Originally posted by tnpete:
Glad you liked it. That is the way we have cooked them for way to many years.
That has even been through 3 restaurants..

Yes the hush puppy's have to have the Egg or its not going to bind.
Pete

quote:

Originally posted by RendezvousQ:
Well, I fried up a batch of catfish nuggets basically using the tnpete recipe. Finally catfish that tasted like fish. There was a little of that lawyer fish taste but still very good.

The dumb chef also tried the Hush Puppies but for some reason forgot to add the egg and they fried apart and I had to completely clean the fryer. So they will have to wait till next time.

Lawyer fish taste?

What's the difference between a catfish and a lawyer? One swims around in dirty, muddy water filled with all sorts of detestable things, the other is a fish!