Southern Pan Fried Fish

Southern Pan Fried Fish
Classic delicious southern fried fish is lightly seasoned and fried in a pan until golden and crisp. Crispy whiting fish is the best!
 CourseDinner, Lunch
 CuisineFried Seafood, Seafood, soul food, Southern, Southern American, Whiting Fish
 Keywordfried fish, fried whiting, whiting fish, whiting fish recipe
 Prep Time10minutes 
 Cook Time20minutes 
 Total Time30minutes 
 Servings6 people

Ingredients

  • 2 lb Fish Fillet whiting, cod, catfish
  • salt and pepper for taste
  • vegetable oil for frying

Flour Mixture

  • 3/4 cup cornmeal
  • 1 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper for taste

Instructions

  • Lightly season the fish with salt and pepper. Set aside.  In a large bowl, combine the flours and all of the seasonings.

  • Dredge the fillets in the breading mixture one at a time. Place the coated fillets on a parchment lined baking sheet. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes.

    Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill the pan with the vegetable oil halfway.*See notes. Fry the fillets in batches but do not crowd the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Drain on a paper towel. Serve immediately since the crispiness won’t last very long!

Notes

COOK TIPS:

  • Use your choice of fish, whiting, cod, catfish.
  • Make sure all the bones are removed from the fish.
  • To make this gluten free, eliminate the flour.
  • Pat the fish dry.
  • Season the fish lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Gently press the breading into the fish and shake off excess flour before you add it to the oil.
  • Coat the fish then leave it alone for 10 minutes. This will help keep the coating from falling off.
  • Use a good quality non-stick pan or cast iron skillet to fry your fish.
  • Do not fill the skillet more than halfway with oil.
  • Make sure the hot oil is @ the correct temperature (350 degrees F) before the fish is added to the skillet.

Recipe updated on 4/12/2019