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I decided to tap into my southern roots for Mardi Gras this week by having some good old fashioned southern fried catfish and greens. You could make this recipe super easy by using pre-made fish fry but I opted for the homemade version which is not complicated at all. If you’ve not had catfish before, you’re truly missing out on a great tasting fish.
I went to Mountain Valley Fish and Oyster last Friday to get some kimchi (another story) but ended up with 4 huge fillets of catfish and of course, our staple of smoked fish. MVFO is open on Tuesdays, so if you want to make this today you are in luck! This recipe is easy because you can adjust each spice to your liking. I even added a tsp. of pepper flakes to kick it up a notch.
Fish fry:
2 C yellow corn meal
1 Tbs kosher salt
2 Tbs bk powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 /2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp blk pepper
1 Tbs paprika
1Tbs garlic powder
Oil for frying
Mix all (except oil) together in a pan dish (pie plate). Heat oil in heavy pan (I used my le creuset pot). The oil has to be really hot because you don’t want the fish to absorb all the oil. When the oil is super hot the fish will be light and crispy.
Dredge the fish in the corn meal and place slowly in hot oil until golden brown (3 mins a side).
Mustard greens:
2 bunches of greens destemmed
Onions (or in my case, shallots) minced
2 cl garlic, minced
1 Tbs vinager
Salt/pepper to salt
1 C chicken broth (or bouillon)
2 strips thick Bacon (optional) cut up. Use oil if not using
Wash and destem the greens. Fry the bacon until crispy and remove. Add the onions and garlic & fry until fragrant. Add the washed greens until all is wilted (5-10 mins). Add the salt/pepper, vinager and chicken broth or bouillon (whichever you’re using). Stir and cover for about 1 hr or until the liquid has reduced to about 1/3. Add bacon bits to plated greens.
The bacon is just for an enticement for my kids. They would eat a shoe of I sprinkled bacon on it! Also, real southern cooks use bacon dripping for everything. So, I thought why not, I’ll go all out! It is Mardi Gras, a celebration of decadence.
If you have a fish fry or your version of greens recipe you’d like share please comment below! I’d love to try it!
For dessert, we are having a King cake from famous Gambino’s. Because I grew up in New Orleans, I really want my kids to have a piece of the culture I grew up in. The tradition goes, every year we order one of these cakes. Once it arrives in the mail, we finish decorating it at home. When you cut into it, the person who finds the hidden plastic baby has to be the one to buy the new King cake the next year. I consider it great luck when I find the baby because it means I get to keep ordering (and eating) this cake for the following year.
Radmama is a busy mom. In her spare time, she is the mad couponer behind Coupon Madness. She believes that there is a coupon for everything you should ever need, and hasn’t paid full price for something since 1999. Radmama also loves to cook. She is always looking for the easiest and most satisfying recipes to feed a family of five. Her specialty is Asian cooking, and her challenge in small town life is seeking out all the ingredients that make her recipes so awesome.
About Author
Radmama is a busy mom. In her spare time, she is the mad couponer behind Coupon Madness. She believes that there is a coupon for everything you should ever need, and hasn’t paid full price for something since 1999. Radmama also loves to cook. She is always looking for the easiest and most satisfying recipes to feed a family of five. Her specialty is Asian cooking, and her challenge in small town life is seeking out all the ingredients that make her recipes so awesome.
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