Description
This crispy cornmeal fish batter creates a golden, crunchy coating that pairs perfectly with mild, firm fish such as catfish, tilapia, trout, or cod. It can be fried or baked for a lighter option.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper, optional
- 1½–2 lb firm fish fillets, such as catfish, tilapia, trout, or cod
- Vegetable, canola, or peanut oil, for frying
Instructions
- Pat the fish fillets completely dry with paper towels.
- In a shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper.
- Coat each fish fillet thoroughly in the dry cornmeal mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Let the coated fish rest for about 5 minutes so the coating adheres properly.
- For frying, heat about ½ inch of oil in a skillet to 350–375°F (175–190°C).
- Fry the fish in batches for about 4–6 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Transfer the cooked fish to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- For baking, preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and arrange the coated fish on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Lightly spray or brush the fish with oil and bake for 12–15 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
- Serve immediately with tartar sauce, remoulade, hot sauce, or your favorite sides.
Notes
- The article specifically recommends patting the fish dry before coating so the batter sticks properly.
- Fry in batches and avoid overcrowding the pan, which can lower the oil temperature and make the coating soggy.
- Fresh oil gives the best flavor and crispness.
- Cornmeal alone can be used for an extra-crispy gluten-free coating.
- For a gluten-free version, replace the all-purpose flour with certified gluten-free flour, rice flour, or cornstarch.
- Nutritional values below are estimates for the prepared fish and will vary depending on the fish, amount of oil absorbed, and cooking method.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course, Seafood
- Method: Frying or Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fish fillet
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: cornmeal fish batter, crispy fried fish, cornmeal fried fish, Southern fried fish, crispy fish coating, cornmeal fish, fried fish recipe