Cajun fish fry is a simple but delicious fried catfish recipe! I’m talking New Orleans style with a whole lot of Creole Seasoning. The buttermilk mixture sets this Cajun fish fry recipe apart from all my other fish recipes. Well, enough of the small talk. Let’s jump into making this Southern Cajun fish recipe.
Why You Should Make?
- Versatile Recipe- This recipe can’t only be used with catfish, but you can also use any other type of fish, such as red snapper, white fish, or tilapia. Many fish can be fried at once when using a large deep fryer.
- Spice Mixture- This Cajun fish fry recipe has an unbelievable spice mixture that is super easy and can be saved for other fish recipes. It’s sure to give your fried catfish all of the full flavors.
- Quick Cooking Time- 10-15 minutes is just about all the time you will need when creating this recipe. The whole fish takes a small amount of time to fry.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Cod- you don’t necessarily have to use cod. You can use any type of fish, such as tilapia, catfish, white fish, or red snapper. It’s entirely your preference.
- Buttermilk- this is used to make the egg mixture that the fish soaks in. This will help your fish to become tender.
- All-purpose flour- use for the fry mixture that you will be placing your Cajun food in. This will make your fried fillets even crispier when you deep fry the fish fillets.
- Seasonings- cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. These are all of the seasonings that you will need but the good news is that you can use as little or as much seasoning as you like.
- Vegetable Oil- what’s a Cajun fish fry without the oil right? You will need enough oil for frying.
- Lemon wedges- this is to squeeze over your fish once they are finished frying. Helps with the strong fish taste if you want to cut the taste a slight bit.
How To Make Cajun Fish Fry?
1. In a shallow dish, pour the buttermilk and place the fish fillets in it. Allow them to soak in the buttermilk for about 10-15 minutes to tenderize the fish and enhance the flavor.
2. In another shallow dish, combine the flour, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat.
4. Remove each fish fillet from the buttermilk, allowing any excess liquid to drip off. Dredge the fish fillets in the flour mixture, ensuring they are fully coated. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
6. Carefully place the coated fish fillets into the hot oil. Fry for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy.
7. Once cooked, transfer the fish fillets to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Serve the Cajun fish fry hot with lemon wedges on the side for a tangy touch.
Variations
- Cajun Fried Redfish: Fresh redfish fillets coated in Cajun spices and deep-fried until golden and delicious.
- Fried Tilapia: Tender tilapia fillets coated in a zesty Cajun seasoning mix and fried to perfection.
- Bass: Bass fillets seasoned with Cajun spices and fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- Fried Softshell Crab: Softshell crabs dipped in a Cajun-spiced batter and deep-fried until crispy and mouthwatering.
- Calamari: Tender calamari rings coated in a Cajun-infused batter and fried until they turn golden brown and crunchy.
- Shrimp: Juicy shrimp coated in a Cajun spice mixture and fried until they become crispy and full of flavor.
- Oysters: Plump oysters coated in a Cajun breading and fried until they become wonderfully crispy on the outside
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- Fried Crawfish: Crawfish tails seasoned with Cajun spices, breaded, and deep-fried to create a deliciously crunchy appetizer.
- Cajun Fried Catfish Po’boy Sandwich: Fried catfish fillets served on a crusty French bread roll, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and a tangy Cajun sauce for a mouthwatering sandwich experience.
Equipment
You will need a skillet to fry your fish or a deep fryer.
Storage/Reheating
You can store your fish in an airtight container. For reheating add to a microwave for 60 seconds to 2 minutes.
In Conclusion
This Cajun fish fry is one recipe that you can enjoy with a side of side of French fries, hot sauce or tarter sauce.
Cajun Fish Fry(Quick and Easy)
Ingredients
- 4 Fish fillets such as cod, catfish, or tilapia
- 1 Cup Buttermilk
- 1 Cup All-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 Tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 Teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust to your preferred spice level
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges For serving
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, pour the buttermilk and place the fish fillets in it. Allow them to soak in the buttermilk for about 10-15 minutes to tenderize the fish and enhance the flavor.1 Cup Buttermilk, 4 Fish fillets
- In another shallow dish, combine the flour, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.1 Cup All-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning, 1 Tablespoons garlic powder, 1 Teaspoon paprika, 1/2 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat to 350 degrees.Vegetable oil for frying
- Remove each fish fillet from the buttermilk, allowing any excess liquid to drip off.
- Dredge the fish fillets in the flour mixture, ensuring they are fully coated.
- Carefully place the coated fish fillets into the hot oil. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Once cooked, transfer the fish fillets to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
- Serve the Cajun fish fry hot with lemon wedges on the side for a tangy touch.Lemon wedges
