You know, it is generally recommended to eat 2-3 servings of fish per week. Do you eat that much? I certainly don’t.
It’s not that I don’t like fish…I like most of it, but I just never think to get it when I’m at the grocery store. It’s stupid, really, considering fish meals are the quickest ones of all, since it takes so little time to cook it.
So when I was looking through my recipes the other day, I went straight for the fish section.
I should tell you that I have inherited my mom’s recipe boxes with all of the recipes she has compiled over the years. It contains both the ones we all know and love from growing up, as well as others that haven’t even been tested yet. I gained this vast collection of recipes when my mom decided to neaten things up by photocopying all of the recipes and putting them in a binder instead. I’m not sure why she did that, but I’m thankful because I got the hand-me-downs ๐
When I told my mom that I made this recipe and how good it was, she said that the last time she cooked it was during one of our summers in Martha’s Vineyard. While I don’t remember her making that particular meal, I can just feel us all sitting out on the deck in the cool, ย summer evening air, enjoying another of my mom’s delicious home-cooked meals.
Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish on Mixed Greens
Taken from Mom’s recipe box ๐
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1/4 cup cornmeal
10-12 oz. Catfish, in 1″ hunks
2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp lemon peel
1 1/2 tsp honey
1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
3 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup thin sliced sweet onion
1. Put cornmeal in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Rinse catfish and shake off extra water- do not pat dry. Toss fish in cornmeal until well-coated.
2. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in large non-stick skillet over med-hi heat. Add fish and cook till golden, turning, about 6 min. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
3. Add 1/2 Tbsp oil, lemon juince and peel, honey an dmustard to skillet. Whisk 30 sec till combined.
4. Combine lettuce and onions in bowl. Add dressing and toss. Divide between 2 plates. Top with fish.
So good to see a cat fish that isn’t deep fried. So good to see a catfish recipe in general. (So says the guy down in Arkansas!) Great recipe!
Thanks, Greg ๐ I actually didn’t use catfish cuz the supermarket was out! Hard to believe, I know. But I used something similar. Equally tasty!
Hmmm…there is no way I eat 2-3 servings per week. Maybe 1 serving every two weeks! I am the same way…I like fish, I just never seem to pick it up when I go to the grocery store. I think I need to add catfish to the list this week…this recipe sounds delicious! ๐
You should do it! Catfish is cheap and usually readily available. I have to say that it’s a pain to cook them all since it’s so many pieces and I hate splattering oil…but it was worth it!
Fish is my absolute favorite food! I think I got a little too excited when I saw the title of your blog today ๐
Speaking of titles – another good alliteration! Whether you tried to do that or not…good work!
hehe, I didn’t even notice the alliteration today! Hope you’ll try this out. The warm dressing over the greens was sooo good along with the fish.
Ummm you better believe I’m trying it out! Do you think it would work with another kind of fish – or is it worth the trip to the market for catfish?
actually didn’t use catfish because they didn’t have it, but any similar white fish would work…like tilapia. Nothing too thick.
ahhh cornmeal breading on fish looks awesome! my mom used to make something similar when i was growing up and we would dip it in mayo+relish sauce together. lol. ๐ i think it was my favorite meal growing up!
Meals with memories are the best ๐
So can I use this “2-3 times” thing as an excuse to eat more sushi? And devour this meal multiple times a week? cause it sounds super delicious.
Hehe, absolutely! I’d eat sushi every day if it wasn’t so darn expensive.
Great recipe – cornmeal isn’t so common where I live but my wife still has some left over from when she made an order a while ago from an US online grocery store. I love fish – it’s true, we don’t eat enough, although we do try to eat 2 seafood things per week. Just need to find some catfish now to make this, although perhaps I can substitute cod or something?!
You can def make a substitute. I actually did because they didn’t have catfish. Tilapia or another thin white fish would work well. Cod might be too thick to cook evenly in the pan. Let me know how it comes out if you try it!
Hi Amy, I just wanted to let you know how much I like your blog. I grew up in Texas and fish was always cooked with a cornmeal crust. I love the way this was served.
Hi Karen! Aw, thank you so much…I’m glad you stopped by. I just checked out your blog, and the recipes look delicious. I will definitely be stopped back ๐
I couldn’t think you are more right
Very well executed read!!!