Southern · main
Fried Catfish
Fried Catfish reads sourness 6.3, citrus 6.3 and fruity 5.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Southern main, about 1 hr 1 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 4.1 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 5.3 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 8.2 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.4 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 4.1 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.6 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sourness 6.3 · Citrus 6.3 · Fruity 5.0 · Heat 4.0 · Richness 3.8 · Allium 3.5 · Umami 3.3 · Salinity 3.2 · Marine & Briny 3.1 · Warm Spice 2.5 · Funk & Ferment 2.2 · Earthy 1.3 · Floral 1.3 · Sweetness 1.1 · Nutty 1.0 · Bitterness 0.9 · Herbaceous 0.7
What's in it (12)
- 4 catfish fillets (about 1.5 lbs)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 cups vegetable oil
- hot sauce to taste
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Time & effort: about 1 hr 1 min (31 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 149.6 kcal, 13.1 g protein, 7.3 g fat, 7 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Soak catfish fillets in seasoned buttermilk at least 30 minutes.
- Dredge in a mixture of cornmeal, flour, and spices, shaking off the excess.
- Fry in 350°F oil for 4 to 5 minutes per side until crispy and golden.
- Drain on a rack and serve with hot sauce and lemon wedges.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Cornmeal-Crusted Fried Catfish — Southern
- Blackened Redfish (Catfish or Snapper) — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
- Cajun Blackened Catfish — Southern
- Blackened Catfish with Lemon Butter — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
- Crispy Cajun Fried Shrimp with Remoulade — Cajun/Creole
Keep reading: what sourness, citrus, fruity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.