| For much of my early life I had a love-hate | | | | The following are some catfish recipes you might |
| relationship with catfish. | | | | wish to try: |
| I would go fishing with my dad, who liked to cast a | | | | Catfish in Beer Batter |
| line from one of the many piers built out into the Gulf | | | | Ingredients |
| of Mexico from the shores of Louisiana, Alabama and | | | | 3 cups self-rising flour |
| Florida. His fellow anglers frequently reeled in catfish, | | | | 2 cups beer, whichever brand you prefer |
| which too often were left to expire on the planks of | | | | 1 clove garlic, minced |
| the pier, their stiff dorsal fin sticking almost straight | | | | 1 teaspoon salt |
| into the air, ready to deliver a painful sting to any | | | | 1 teaspoon black pepper |
| barefooted kid unfortunate enough to step on it. One | | | | 6 catfish fillets |
| day, one of those unlucky barefoot kids happened to | | | | Cooking oil Directions |
| be me. | | | | 1. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, beer, garlic, salt and black |
| All I can remember from that misadventure is searing | | | | pepper in a bowl. |
| pain shooting through my foot and up into my leg, | | | | 2. Dredge catfish fillets in the remaining flour, and |
| and being taken to a hospital emergency room. | | | | then in the better created in step 1. |
| Lesson: When handling catfish--dead, alive, or | | | | 3. Heat cooking oil in skillet. Fry fillets in hot oil until |
| dying--be very careful. (I've since learned that a | | | | golden. |
| catfish's stinging ability lies with a particular protein | | | | 4. Drain fillets on absorbent paper towels, and serve |
| that it can deliver via its fins. True biology fact!) | | | | hot. |
| On the other hand, I have to say that eating a mess | | | | Tip: Make tabasco or other hot sauce available for |
| of fried catfish on a big screened porch on a soft | | | | your guests to put on the catfish, if they wish. Also, |
| southern night is an experience I'm dearly miss, and | | | | have plenty of cold beer on hand to drink! |
| one that I wish I could share with my own children. | | | | Baked/Broiled Catfish |
| The South is the epicenter of catfish culture in the | | | | Ingredients |
| United States. Most catfish consumption takes place | | | | 4 whole large catfish |
| in this region. Traditionally, southerners bread it with | | | | 1/2 cup tomato sauce |
| cornmeal and fry it. But there are numerous other | | | | 2 packages shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese |
| ways to prepare it, too. | | | | 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated |
| Thanks to farmed catfish, this southern staple is | | | | 1 tablespoon parsley flakes |
| showing up on seafood shelves in other regions, too. | | | | Cooking oil |
| That's a positive development. It's an inexpensive | | | | Directions |
| food, yet one that is particularly high in protein and | | | | 1. Brush fish, inside and outside, with tomato sauce. |
| other nutritional goodness. | | | | 2. Grease a baking large baking dish. Place fish in dish |
| Nearly all U.S. farm-raised catfish, by the way, comes | | | | and brush with a little cooking oil. |
| from four states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and | | | | 4. Sprinkle the two cheeses and the parsley flakes |
| Mississippi. This industry employs over 13,000 people. | | | | over the fish and bake in an oven at 350 degrees for |
| Catfish farming is also economically important in parts | | | | approximately 30 minutes. |
| of South America and Asia. | | | | 5. Turn fish over and broil close to top heat of oven |
| So just what is a catfish? The name applies to an | | | | for 2 minutes. |
| incredibly large number of different species, but they | | | | Grilled Catfish |
| all have prominent barbels, resembling a cat's | | | | Ingredients |
| whiskers--hence the name. Most catfish are found in | | | | 6 catfish fillets |
| freshwater habitats, though some--like the | | | | Juice of 2 lemons |
| "cat" that sent me to the hospital--live in | | | | 1/3 cup cooking oil |
| the sea. Catfish range greatly in size, too. Some are | | | | 1 teaspoon salt |
| tiny, and may be kept in aquaria. Others are literally | | | | Directions |
| gigantic; the largest freshwater fish on record is a | | | | 1. Combine all ingredients (except fillets) in a casserole |
| 646-pound Mekong giant catfish that some fishermen | | | | dish to create a marinade. |
| in Thailand somehow managed to catch. | | | | 2. Place fillets in casserole dish with marinade. Let |
| Most of the catfish that you buy at the store will | | | | stand in refrigerator overnight. |
| weigh between one and two pounds. This is the | | | | 3. Grill marinated fillets over hot coals 4 to 6 minutes |
| weight range that catfish farmers aim for in their | | | | per side, or until the fish flakes when pierced with a |
| effort to promote product consistency. | | | | fork. |