Today we’re taking a couple of virtual road trips. Our first trip is picnic of southern fried chicken over to Wok With Ray where you meet Ray (if you haven’t already), a great blogger friend, and a new wonderful chef and caterer with his own business – Wok With Ray. Ray featured some of the most amazing Filipino and Asian dishes and his photography is beautiful! In May I gave you a taste of his Sweet and Garlicky Pork Chops in my Celebration of Garlic post.
Our second trip is to Black Lake, a lake in north Louisiana where I learned to fish and which supplied my family with all of the catfish and bluegill (bream) that we could eat. Once there I’ll be serving up a picnic of Southern Fried Catfish and Carrot & Raisin Salad.
Southern Fried Catfish Recipe
Catfish fillets fried with a light, crispy cornmeal coating – just like my mama used to do it. For a dipping sauce, you could use a traditional tartar sauce or the version provided below.
- 1 pound catfish fillets, cut in half lengthwise
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup cornmeal
- Salt and pepper
- 4 cups peanut or canola oil or enough oil to deep fry the fillets
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg, Worcestershire sauce, buttermilk, and a little salt and pepper.
Place cornmeal in another shallow bowl or pie pan. Add a generous amount of pepper. Stir to combine.
- Heat oil in deep frying skillet or cast iron Dutch oven over medium high heat to a temperature of 325°F (163°C). (The temperature is important to keep your catfish from being greasy.)
- While the oil is heating, start dipping the catfish fillets in egg mixture, then into the cornmeal. Coat both sides of the fillets with the cornmeal.
Place gently in hot oil. Cook until lightly brown on both sides and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. If the oil covers the whole fillet, you shouldn’t have to turn it. Just cook it in the oil for about 4 minutes.
- Transfer to a flat paper bag or paper towels to drain.
- Sprinkle with more salt if desired. (We like adding salt right out of the fryer.)
Serve with Catfish Dipping Sauce. Recipe below.
Catfish Dipping Sauce
This sauce is similar to a tartar sauce, but different. It goes great with my southern fried catfish.
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek Style Yogurt
- 1 Tbsp. onion, minced
- 1 Tbsp. dill pickle, minced
- 1 Tbsp. horseradish sauce
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp dried dill weed or 1 tsp fresh dill weed, minced
- Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a bowl, mix well, and set aside.
If you’re going to make fried catfish, you’re going to need a Carrot & Raisin Salad. This isn’t the typical southern carrot & raisin salad which is made with mayonnaise and honey. This salad uses a simple dressing of orange juice, honey and Dijon. Very light and just as tasty.
Carrot and Raisin Salad Recipe
Recipe Author: MJ of MJ’s Kitchen
Serves: 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
½ cup raisins
Juice from 1 orange (about 3 to 4 Tbsp.)
4 large carrots, peeled and grated
Touch of salt
Dressing
1 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup
1 Tbsp. Dijon or Creole mustard
3 Tbsp. orange juice (drained from raisins)
Instructions
- Squeeze the juice from the orange into a bowl. Add the raisins and set aside for at least 10 minutes to re-hydrate.
- Grate the carrots into a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and mustard.
- Drain the juice from the raisins and add 3 Tbsp of the orange juice to the dressing. Whisk.
- Add the raisins to the carrots then a touch of salt.
- Add the dressing and toss.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir again before serving.
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Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is wonderful, as well as the content!. Thanks For Your article about Southern Fried Catfish and Carrot Raisin Salad – Picnic @ Ray’s | MJ& .
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I can’t even remember the last time I had catfish! This sounds so good! Thanks for linking up to MTM Mondays!
That fish looks delish and I love that carrot salad! Something I think would be great for my kiddos’ lunch boxes. Something I am always keeping an eye out for. Thanks for a new idea!
This looks delicious! I have never tried catfish before, but yours looks so good, I will have to try it sometime. Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday!
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Mj,
Delicious, thanks for sharing with Hearth and Soul blog hop.I am going to highlight this one this week.
The fish with the carrot salad sound like a great combination. I like the sweetness from the carrots balancing the fish flavor. Thanks for sharing this.
We love carrot raisin salad. I’ve been playing around with different dressings trying to get away from mayo. Will give yours a try.
I love carrot-raisin salad. I have my own recipe but need to get around to posting it. you version with the OJ and Dijon sounds very tasty! Thanks for sharing this with Summer Salad Sundays, look forward to seeing you again soon!
This so reminds me of my days in Lousiana fishing in the river! That catfish dish looks amazing with the carrot salad. Catfish is really delicious.
My mom used to make carrot and raisin salad all the time. I like that your version doesn’t contain mayo. I have nothing against mayo, but I think it makes the salad a little heavy.
I haven’t had a carrot salad in years. My mom used to make it for us kids to get us to eat some veggies. I’ll have to try this meal on my vegetable hating nephew. The whole meal looks terrific!
Thanks for this recipe.. I am trying to add more veggies and fruits in my diet. So this carrot and raisin salad is a perfect idea.. and easy to prepare too!
Is wild rice similar to black sticky rice! Heading to Ray’s blog for more.
Sounds amazing! Headed over to check it out 🙂
I love fishing! I’ve learned it when I was 7 I think and I still enjoy to do it. I think it’s a great meal after this kind of activation 🙂 nice picture as well.
Love catfish and I imagine the carrot raisin salad paired perfectly with it! 🙂
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This is a fun picnic, MJ! Ahh..what a privilege to cook with that special Dutch oven. I bet your crispy fried fish is as tasty as it looks, especially the one you caught too. Heading over to Ray’s now.
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I’ve never tried to make fried catfish before, but this looks delicious so I’m headed over to check it out. Wok with Ray has a wonderful blog so it’s wonderful to see you posting there…
Thanks so much for sharing the carrot salad recipe with Made with Love Mondays, MJ. I’ve never been a huge fan of carrot salad because of all the mayonnaise, but this Dijon version sounds tempting! I think you may have forgotten to add a link-back to the series, but I may have missed it…
You are most welcome Javelin! Another brain fart – the link has been made. 🙂 Thanks for the kind reminder and your wonderful comments.
Oh I so want a bite of that catfish right now!!!So delicious and crispy :)Over to check out the recipe 🙂
Lovely platter, very nice meal. I like that salad very much.
Love the looks of your fried catfish and salad. Off to Ray’s to check out your virtual roadtrips. 🙂
That platter looks awesome! Off to check Ray’s site..
Can’t say I’ve had catfish before, but it sure does look good.
Gorgeous looking fish… I always forget, is catfish the really ugly thing with the big, sad looking mouth? Must go look it up… regardless of whether it is or not, it’s definitely very tasty!
I have to admit, I’m not familiar with Filipino cooking at all… I’ll be heading over to Ray’s to check it all out 🙂
Thanks Charles! Yes, catfish are the really ugly things with the big, sad looking mouths!! 🙂 They also have a spiked fin that can stab you and hurt like hell if you’re not careful! I hated handling them, but glad I learned how.
Beautiful fried fish! I have some fresh redfish gifted to me by a fisherman friend. Think I’ll have to try your fried recipe! 😉
It looks gorgeous, MJ. A perfect dish for a sunny day. I cannot remember the last time I had catfish… I was a child.
What a colourful plate – I love how the light is hitting the carrot salad and illuminating your cold frosty (which I note is not nearly as *huge* as the one I showcased in my post ;-)). I’m heading out on your virtual road trip…
Thanks everyone for your great comments! I hope you enjoy the recipes and while you’re there – be sure to check out Ray’s desserts. A little something sweet after this meal is perfect!
That looks great.. on my way over to Ray’s now. 🙂
That is delicious southern goodness on a plate Mj! Hope you had a wonderful 4th!
This looks absolutely fabulous, MJ! Heading over to check out the post now. (And you KNOW I’ll be checking out Ray’s desserts, too!)
Fried cat fish is great stuff! And carrot salads can be heaven. I’m off to Ray’s to check this out . . .
I havent eaten catfish for a long time now, I am not sure if its even sold here in NZ
You make everything look so awesome here is another example just lovely!
LOVE~~ I have the privilege of frying my catfish in the same cast iron Dutch oven that Mama used for over 50 years, the taste and experience is pretty much the same.
vianney
heading over, yay!!
Read it over at Ray’s but wanted to leave a comment here – your fried catfish looks fantastic! So crispy and tasty. And you’re so lucky to still have your mom’s cast iron. My family keeps asking me why all my pots and pans are “so heavy” (i.e. they’re cast iron) and I told them it’s because one day *hopefully* my grandkids will be using it.
Thanks! Cast iron is something that can get passed down from one generation to another. One of my nieces has already claimed the Dutch oven! 🙂
Wow, such yummy looking fried fish! Off to visit your guest post~
MJ, this is a terrific guest post. I too a fan of Ray’s recipes. Off to check this out.
Who hoo! Love Ray’s blog, and can’t wait to see your post. Heading over now.
Heading over to check it out 🙂
Lovely catfish and your carrot raisin salad looks so delicious! Nicely done!
Thank you very much for making and sharing this wonderful meal at Wok with Ray, MJ. You are a great cook and a wonderful, wonderful friend posting. Thank you so much!!! 🙂
~ ray ~
Thank YOU Ray! Thanks for the support and all of the nice comments throughout the whole process. You’re a joy to work with! Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend!
SO YOU’RE THE ONE THAT GOT THE DUTCH OVEN!!!! I’m glad someone got it that appreciates it. I got the deep skillet with a lid – almost as good. I love the little twists you put on traditional recipes to make them extra special. What a coincidence! Jim and I went out for lunch today and I had fried catfish and carrot and raisin salad. I was surprised to see it on the menu. Unfortunately, it didn’t taste much like Mama’s and I’m sure nothing like yours. The carrots were soggy and it had so much liquid in it that it ran all over the plate and got the fish wet. Downer! I am really glad that you are getting to share your wonderful talent with such a broad audience. Keep on keeping on.
🙂 🙂 🙂 Yes, I got the Dutch Oven! 🙂 Glad to see that you got the skillet! That is strange to see this on a restaurant menu. Sorry it wasn’t satisfying. Bobby and I treat ourselves to this plate of delicious a few times a year. In the fall, it’s fried green tomatoes! 🙂 Hope you and J are having a great weekend and thanks for the comments Sis.
Nice meeting you MJ, just came form Ray’s. Wonderful meal…
Have a great weekend MJ 🙂
Juliana – thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you again! Hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!
That catfish is really gorgeous! Heading over to Ray’s site to see how it’s done.
Road trip..That too virtual, I am on!!
These look fabulous, I am off to check ur guest post!!
I think it is awesome you have the same pot your mom used … that in itself is amazing! Looks fabulous, and nice to hear about your roots!
Virtual road trips… sounds great!! 🙂 I love a good fried catfish and the carrot raisin salad sounds like a perfect compliment! Have a wonderful weekend my friend. 🙂
This is a stunning fish my friend, I love the presentation and mix of flavours 😀
Off to check out the fabulous guest post!
Cheers
CCU