Air Fried Catfish
The only way to eat catfish is fried and the only way to fry is air fried. It's a lot less mess and a lot less work for virtually the same result.
Buy catfish that is farm raised and I recommend a brand that displays that the product hails from the USA. There have been reports of farm raised catfish from China that have consumed something less than a sanitary diet.
Catfish, like all other frozen seafood, is to be thawed right before cooking and under cold, running water. It doesn't take long.
Of Course, You Need One of These
The word "air fryer" is pure marketing which was created by the Phillips Electronic Company when the first air fryer was introduced to the consumer in 2010. In fact, an air fryer is a counter-top convection oven. It circulates super-heated air to surround food in a confined space and cooks it fast and crispy, just like submerging food in hot oil; but with air frying, of course, you are getting far fewer fat grams and calories, and none of the mess (and danger) of deep-fat frying.
Air Fried Catfish
Ingredients
- 2 5-oz catfish fillets, thawed
- 1/2 cup whole milk (or 50/50 2% milk/heavy cream)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 6-8 grind freshly cracked black pepper
- dash Tabasco Sauce
- non-stick cooking spray (like, Pam)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the air fryer at 400°F for 8 minutes.
- Combine the egg and milk in one bowl, then combine the cornmeal and flour in another bowl or on a paper plate.
- Dredge each fillet in the egg and milk mixture and then coat the fish in the cornmeal and flour mixture.
- Repeat the dredging procedure on each fillet for a second coating.
- Allow the fillets to rest for 5 minutes after coating.
- When the air fryer has come to temperature, spray the interior basket with the non-stick spray and place the two fillet side-by-side in the basket.
- Lightly spray each fillet with the non-stick spray.
- Cook the fillets at 400°F for 10 minutes.
- Flip the fillets over and lightly spray with non-stick spray. Cook another 10 minutes.
