Fried Catfish Po Boy

Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence

Show: Food 911Episode: Mardi Gras Bash

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (10)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(10)

Cook Time:
3 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 2 hr 0 min
Cook: 3 min
Total:: 2 hr 33 min

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Ingredients

Canola oil, for frying
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, smashed
2 long soft-crusted French bread baguettes
6 (6-ounce) catfish fillets
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 cup yellow cor meal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch cayenne
Sliced pickles
1 recipe Spicy Slaw, recipe follows
Hot sauce, for serving
Lemon wedges, for serving

Pour about 3 inches of oil in a deep fryer or large, heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the smashed garlic and swirl the pot around to infuse the garlic flavor into the butter. Slice the French bread in 1/2 lengthwise and brush the top and insides with the garlic butter. Stick the bread in the oven for 5 minutes to warm it through.

Season both sides of the catfish fillets with a fair amount of salt and pepper. In a wide bowl, mix the milk and egg together, season with salt and pepper. Mix the cornmeal, flour, cayenne, salt and pepper in a pie dish using a fork. Dip the catfish in the wet batter, then dredge in the dry; being sure to cover the fillets completely. Gently drop the fish in the hot oil in batches so the pan is not overcrowded. Fry the fillets for 3 minutes and then drain on a platter lined with paper towels; sprinkle with salt while they are still hot.

To assemble the sandwich, put the pickles across the bottom 1/2 of the bread, lay the fried catfish on top. Spoon a small mound of slaw on top of the catfish and close up the sandwich with the top 1/2 of the bread. Cut into portions and serve immediately with hot sauce and lemon on the side.

Spicy Slaw:

1 head green cabbage, shredded

2 carrots, grated

1 red onion, thinly sliced

2 green onions, chopped

1 red chile, sliced

11/2 cups mayonnaise

1/4 cup Creole mustard

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 lemon, juiced

Pinch sugar

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

Several dashes hot sauce

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine the cabbage, carrot, red onion, green onions, and chile in a large bowl.

In another bowl, mix the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar; stirring to incorporate. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss gently to mix. Season the cole slaw with celery seed, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Chill for 2 hours in refrigerator while frying the catfish.

Yield: 8 to 10 cups

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Fried Catfish Po Boy
Stephanie Gulfport, MS 02-07-2009
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nothing special
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I just made the catfish on this recipe. It was good but I didn't think it was special. Nice and crunchy but I didn't see any... difference with an egg wash than without. It was quick and easy. I'll probably try it again.Read more
recipe Fried Catfish Po Boy
Laura Decatur, GA 05-24-2008
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Yum!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made these tonight for my fiancee and I. They were amazing! I didn't attempt the Spicy Slaw, however. I used store-bought... coleslaw. I toasted cuban bread with the garlic, topped it with dill pickle slices and JALEPENO peppers, the fish, coleslaw, and hot sauce! Oh my gosh, so spicy and so delicious! We were raving!!Read more
recipe Fried Catfish Po Boy
Anonymous 06-08-2007
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Marvelous
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Simple, yet authentic and hearty.
recipe Fried Catfish Po Boy
joyce alpharetta, GA 04-07-2006
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AMAZING
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My husband and I just finished eating this wonderful recipe!!! The slaw is excellent on the hot fried filets. For the catfish... I first coated them in the seasoned flour mixture, then to the egg/milk wash and lastly, I coated with a corn flour/muffin mixture of 1 part Zaratans fish fry and 1 part Jiffy Muffin mix. YUMMY!!! We will make this often this summer and next time we will invite the neighbors for a decadant PO Boy like no other!!!! Be sure to toast the bread in the oven split open.Read more
recipe Fried Catfish Po Boy
Molly Minneapolis, MN 03-23-2006
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Love it!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

We made this for guests who, as it turned out, were not fans of slaw. In fact they never eat the stuff. We offered them the... option of leaving it off but after they took one bite of the slaw by itself, they were hooked. They loved the slaw and wanted it on their catfish AND on the side. The whole recipe is great but this is our new favorite slaw. Cajun mustard rocks.Read more
recipe Fried Catfish Po Boy
Mary Norman, OK 03-06-2006
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Very good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

What an excellent catfish recipe. The slaw is good solo as well.