Salt And Pepper Fried Catfish Recipe

Unless you're from the South, catfish might not be the first fish that comes to mind when thinking of a fish fry. Found in the deep, covered beds of rivers and lakes, catfish tends to get a bad rap for its muddy flavor and gritty texture. Prepared well, though, catfish is one of the best fish for frying, being that it is both dense and flaky. To avoid the characteristically muddiness, catfish requires some flavoring techniques, such as buttermilk brines and cornmeal coating.

Developer Michelle McGlinn offers another way to flavor catfish in this salt and pepper fried catfish recipe. Using the techniques of Chinese salt and pepper squid, she brines the catfish in Shaoxing wine and sesame before coating it in white pepper and potato starch. The starchy breading is fried into a light and airy crust and then fried again with spicy chiles, scallions, and garlic for an irresistibly good stir-fry snack. If you're looking for new ways to use catfish, this Chinese-inspired recipe is the perfect place to start.

Gathering the ingredients for salt and pepper fried catfish

The main ingredient for this recipe is, of course, the catfish. Avoid catfish steaks and instead opt for a few catfish filets or a pound of catfish nuggets. Because this recipe works best with fish that fries quickly, choose thin pieces without any skin. From the pantry, you'll need Shaoxing wine (or mirin), sesame oil, potato starch, flour, baking soda, dried Thai chiles, garlic, white pepper, and salt. From your fridge, grab a few eggs, some scallions, and a few fresh green chiles. To fry the catfish, you'll just need a neutral, mild-flavored oil like canola or vegetable.

Step 1: Slice the catfish

Slice the catfish into 1-inch pieces.

Step 2: Combine the marinade ingredients

Combine the Shaoxing wine and sesame oil in a bowl.

Step 3: Marinate the catfish

Add the catfish and marinate for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Heat up the oil

Heat 4 cups oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

Step 5: Make sure the oil is very hot

To test the oil, carefully drop a piece of flour into the oil. When it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready.

Step 6: Combine the batter

Combine the potato starch, flour, baking soda, white pepper, salt, and eggs in a bowl.

Step 7: Toss with the catfish

Remove the catfish from the wine marinade and add it to the batter. Toss to coat.

Step 8: Fry the catfish

When the oil is hot, add the catfish and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Work in batches, as needed.

Step 9: Drain

Remove the catfish from the skillet and drain on paper towels.

Step 10: Heat oil in a wok

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a wok.

Step 11: Fry the aromatics

Add the scallions, garlic, and chiles and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Do not allow the garlic to burn.

Step 12: Toss with the catfish

Add the catfish and toss with the aromatics.

Step 13: Serve

Remove from the heat and serve immediately.

Salt and Pepper Fried Catfish Recipe
5 (10 ratings)
A spin on Chinese salt and pepper fried squid, this recipe stars catfish and gives the fish a crispy, potato starch crust and a spicy coating.
Prep Time
30
minutes
Cook Time
10
minutes
Servings
4
Servings
bowl of salt and pepper catfish
Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1 pound catfish
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 4 cups + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or other neutral oil), for frying, divided
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup potato starch
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 scallions, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 green chiles, sliced
  • 2 dried Thai chiles, seeded and roughly chopped
Directions
  1. Slice the catfish into 1-inch pieces.
  2. Combine the Shaoxing wine and sesame oil in a bowl.
  3. Add the catfish and marinate for 20 minutes.
  4. Heat 4 cups oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
  5. To test the oil, carefully drop a piece of flour into the oil. When it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready.
  6. Combine the potato starch, flour, baking soda, white pepper, salt, and eggs in a bowl.
  7. Remove the catfish from the wine marinade and add it to the batter. Toss to coat.
  8. When the oil is hot, add the catfish and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Work in batches, as needed.
  9. Remove the catfish from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
  10. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a wok.
  11. Add the scallions, garlic, and chiles and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Do not allow the garlic to burn.
  12. Add the catfish and toss with the aromatics.
  13. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
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What is potato starch, and what can I use as a substitute?

We know that potato is in itself a versatile starch, but did you know that it can be crushed and dehydrated into a powder and used in even more diverse ways? Potato starch is a large granule that absorbs moisture and concentrates it, which makes it perfect for using in fried foods like catfish and chicken where a crispy crust is key. In the case of Korean fried chicken and Japanese chicken karaage, potato starch is even considered a magic ingredient that transforms the breading into a light and airy, crispy crust. Unlike when you use only flour, potato starch prevents the activation of gluten and keeps the crust from getting too chewy.

Despite its usefulness, potato starch isn't always the easiest thing to find. If you can't find it in the flour and starches aisle of your grocery store, try an Asian grocery that specializes in Korean food products. If that isn't an option either, swap the potato starch for the similar cornstarch. You can also swap in potato flour, rice flour, or tapioca starch, which aren't quite the same but offer their own benefits for crunchy coatings.

What is the best way to serve salt and pepper fish?

Salt and pepper catfish, like the squid equivalent, can be used as a main course with a few filling sides. Consider the meal a takeout order: If you order a fried protein, you might also want a side of rice or some simple lo mein noodles to accompany them. You could also prepare a cucumber salad, saucy tofu, or stir-fried eggplant and bok choy. If salt and pepper catfish is your main course, appetizers such as dumplings in chile oil, spring rolls, and scallion pancakes would round out the fried entree.

You can also serve salt and pepper catfish as an appetizer or side dish since the crunchy, spicy pieces make for a shareable plate. Serve the catfish alongside beef skewers and bao buns, or as a side dish to beef and broccoli, mapo tofu, and chicken fried rice. Whichever you choose, make sure you serve catfish right after cooking or the batter might get soggy while you wait.