Jalapeño-cheddar cornmeal catfish with roasted poblano tartar

Take the cornmeal crust and add sharp cheddar and jalapeño, and the edges of the fillet crisp and bubble in the pan. It is a spicier, richer version of a fish fry.

The roasted poblano tartar sauce does the work lemon usually does, with a smoky note to go with the heat.

About 30 min. Serves 4.

Ingredients

• 1½ lb catfish fillets, patted dry
• 2 large eggs beaten with 2 tbsp milk
• Vegetable oil for shallow pan-frying

Poblano tartar

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 roasted poblano pepper, peeled, seeded and finely diced
• 1 tbsp dill pickle relish
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• ¼ tsp garlic powder

Breading

• ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
• ¼ cup flour
• ⅓ cup finely shredded sharp cheddar
• 1 tbsp dehydrated jalapeño flakes (or 1 fresh jalapeño, finely minced and patted dry)
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

Method

1. Stir the tartar ingredients together in a small bowl and chill, so the flavors blend while you cook.
2. In a shallow dish, toss the cornmeal, flour, cheddar, jalapeño, salt and pepper together. Put the egg and milk in a second shallow bowl.
3. Heat ¼ inch of oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high to 360°F.
4. Dip each fillet in the egg, then press it firmly into the cornmeal mix so the cheese and meal stick.
5. Fry 3½ to 4 minutes a side, until crisp and golden and bubbling at the edges. Drain briefly on a wire rack and serve hot with the tartar sauce.

Notes

• The cheese browns fast. If the crust darkens before the fish is done, lower the heat a notch.
• Cook fish to 145°F in the thickest part, which is the FDA’s temperature for fish. Check with a thermometer.
• Any catfish fillet works, channel or blue. Fillets of very different thickness cook at different speeds, so check the thickest one.
• TPWD lists consumption advisories for some Texas waters. If you caught the fish, check the advisories for that water before you cook it.

Sources: FDA: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood Safely (content current as of Mar. 5, 2024), TPWD: Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories.

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