Southern Fried Catfish with fixin's, that's some fine eating!

Tasty Mississippi catfish, hush puppies and good company are the essentials of a made to order good time. For the good feelings to last, the food must be right. The catfish is delicious and does not require a chef to fry to perfection. The skills for cooking are readily learned in a short while and before you know it, you too can be an expert on preparing a Mississippi delicacy that is at home on tables across the Magnolia state and beyond.

Needed stuff and ingredients

Farm fresh Mississippi Catfish, 2 or 3 pounds, dining party dependent
1-1/2 Gallons Vegetable oil
Louisiana Fish Fry seasoning
Outdoor type grill for the outdoor cooker, a regular stove burner for inside preparation
Pan and metal basket/strainer or metal colander or 12 inch cast-iron skillet
1-Gallon plastic bag
Optional House Hush Puppy Mix
Cooking thermometer

Select the freshest fish you can. Buy your fish from a reputable market. Frozen catfish can be fairly easily obtained as well. Filets and nuggets each are popular and vary only slightly in cooking time.

Prepare for cooking- Wash the fish and allow to drain on paper towels just before cooking.
Heat the oil- After lighting the burner, place the pan on top of the burner and fill with sufficient oil. Use a good high quality vegetable oil. There should be enough to cover the fish while cooking. Heat the oil to a temperature range of 350-375 degrees.

Coat the fish- Take out the plastic bag with coating. Roll the fish around inside the bag until well coated with batter seasoning and gently place in the HOT oil. Cook filets approximately 8 minutes and golden brown and nuggets 4-6 minutes and golden brown.

Remove fried fish from heat-Use spatula/strainer to remove cooked fish and drain in paper towel lined pan.
Place appropriate condiments on the table. Hot sauce is a southern favorite and in many places, people wont eat without it.

Season to taste only if required. Serve piping hot with sufficient warm hush puppies.

Tips & Warnings!

Hot oil can splatter so be cautious.
Stoves are hot, enough said.

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No saltwater fish were harmed in the preparation of this lens