For Southern-Style Fish Sandwiches, Use This Type Of Fish

A batch of fried fish can be delicious on its own, or made even better when loaded into warm tortillas for tacos or on a hearty bun for sandwiches. Whether you wish to fry your fish or choose to grill, bake, or blacken it for a healthier alternative, there are plenty of fish to choose from. If you're preparing a Southern-style fish sandwich, catfish is the best option.

Catfish is a staple of Southern cuisine and optimal for cooking and adding to a sandwich. It's a firm enough type of fish that holds up well to frying, and it has a mild and slightly sweet flavor. This means you can get creative with your seasonings, frying batter, sauces, toppings, and other ingredients to put together one mouthwatering and memorable fish sandwich.

For example, try it in a Cajun-inspired catfish sandwich recipe. This calls for soft and sweet brioche buns, a catfish batter made with Louisiana hot sauce, lemon pepper, and Cajun seasonings, a topping of creamy coleslaw, and a robust remoulade. If you don't have catfish on hand, there are a number of other similar types of fish that you can also try in order to create a sandwich that embraces Southern flavor and ingredients.

Catfish will give your sandwich a uniquely Southern flair, but other types such as cod, haddock, tilapia, or flounder will also work. Add your favorite Cajun seasonings to flavor your fish and to the batter, if you're frying it. Once your fish is cooked and cooled, it's time to assemble it into sandwiches.

Brioche buns are an ideal housing that can hold up to the hearty filling of a fish sandwich. Alternatively, try giving your sandwich even more Southern flair with a po'boy-inspired roll. For a sweeter bun, turn your fish sandwiches into sliders by piling portions of your fried or grilled filets atop cornbread yeast rolls.

As for sauces and other toppings, remoulade is a must to give your fish sandwiches a bold Southern flavor. Add barbecue sauce for extra sweetness and heat. While classic coleslaw makes an excellent topping for fried fish sandwiches, you can get creative by making it spicy with the addition of hot sauce. Try slices of sweet or spicy pickles to provide a little crunch in your fish sandwiches. Whether you choose to use catfish or any other type of fish, this will be one satisfying sandwich.