A crunchy, golden catfish fillet tucked into soft bread and dressed with fresh fixings — a true Southern classic made with love.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: 25–30 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
For the Catfish
- 4 catfish fillets (about 4–6 oz each)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional but delicious)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
For the Breading
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (or Old Bay)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
For Frying
- Vegetable oil or peanut oil (enough to fill skillet 1–2 inches)
For the Sandwich
- 4 brioche or soft bakery buns
- Lettuce leaves
- Sliced tomatoes
- Pickles
- Red onion slices (optional)
For the Cajun Remoulade Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp pickle relish
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- ½ tsp Cajun seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Directions
1. Prepare the Catfish
- Rinse catfish fillets and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a bowl, whisk together buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Add catfish and let it marinate for 10–15 minutes while you prepare the breading.
2. Make the Breading
- In a shallow dish, mix cornmeal, flour, paprika, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and cayenne.
- Remove fillets from buttermilk and dredge in the cornmeal mixture, pressing to coat evenly.
3. Fry the Catfish
- Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet to 350°F.
- Carefully add catfish fillets and fry 4–6 minutes per side, or until golden, crispy, and cooked through.
- Transfer to a wire rack (not paper towels) to keep the crust crunchy.
4. Make the Cajun Remoulade
- In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, Dijon, relish, lemon juice, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Chill until ready to use.
5. Build the Sandwich
- Lightly toast brioche buns for extra flavor.
- Spread remoulade sauce on both sides of the bun.
- Layer lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a hot crispy catfish fillet.
- Add onions if desired, then close the sandwich with love.
Notes from Mama Clara’s Kitchen
“This sandwich is everything Southern food stands for — crispy, flavorful, and made to warm your heart. Serve it fresh, baby, while that catfish is still singing hot!”
