Description
Southern-style blackened catfish brings bold Cajun flavors to your dinner table with a spicy, crispy exterior and tender, flaky fish inside. Packed with zesty seasonings and quick to prepare, you’ll savor this New Orleans-inspired dish that delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 fresh catfish fillets
Seasonings and Spices:
- Cajun seasoning: To taste
Cooking Liquids and Enhancements:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 medium lemon
Instructions
- Gently pat the catfish fillets with a clean paper towel to remove excess moisture, creating optimal conditions for a crisp exterior.
- Combine olive oil and melted butter in a small mixing bowl, then delicately brush this mixture across each fillet’s surface.
- Generously dust the fillets with Cajun seasoning, ensuring comprehensive coverage on both sides of the fish.
- Allow the seasoned fillets to rest for 3-5 minutes, enabling the spices to infuse into the fish’s texture.
- Position a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, adding a thin layer of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Wait until the skillet reaches an intense heat, characterized by a slight shimmer across the oil’s surface.
- Carefully place the seasoned fillets into the scorching skillet, listening for the immediate sizzling sound that indicates proper temperature.
- Reduce heat to low-medium and cook for approximately 3-4 minutes, watching the edges transform to a deep, rich brown.
- Gently flip each fillet using a spatula, ensuring minimal disruption to the developing crust.
- Continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes until the fish becomes opaque and easily breaks apart with gentle pressure from a fork.
- Transfer the blackened catfish to serving plates, accompanied by fresh lemon wedges.
- Squeeze lemon juice over the fillets moments before serving to brighten the robust Cajun flavors.
Notes
- Seasoning penetrates deep into catfish when mixed with oil and butter, creating a flavor explosion in every bite.
- Searing requires a scorching hot skillet to lock in moisture and develop a beautiful golden-brown crust that crackles with Cajun spice.
- Flipping delicate fish demands gentle handling and precise timing to prevent breaking and ensure perfectly cooked, tender meat that falls apart easily.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg