My southern fried fish recipe is one of my favorite all-time dishes to make. I love fried fish. Growing up in Washington, DC great fish and seafood were an everyday thing. My dad’s hobby was fishing and fresh fish was on the menu in our home on a regular basis. Today, It is not uncommon for me to fry fish on any given Friday or Sunday. Southern fried fish is a classic dish that is loved by people all over the world. It is a simple dish to make that requires only a few ingredients. The key to great soul food fried fish is to achieve a crispy battered skin coating without allowing the inner fish to become dry.
This recipe for Southern fried fish uses red snapper, but you can use any type of fish that you prefer. You can also use catfish, tilapia, whiting or cod. Any of these fish can serve as a good alternative if you can’t find red snapper.
The fish is first dipped in a batter made with egg then it is coated with seasoned flour and cornmeal. The fish is then fried until it is golden brown and crispy. You can either deep fry or pan fry. For this recipe I used a large pot to deep fry. Both frying methods will yield delicious tasting fried fish.
Deep fry the fish for five minutes or until it is crispy and golden brown. Remove the fish from the pot and set it on paper towels to remove the excess oil.
Southern fried fish goes great with so many other dishes. For a classic soul food dinner, pair your fish with collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread. And if you are anything like me, you must have hot sauce to give your fish a little extra kick. You won’t be disappointed.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb Red Snapper
- 1 Cup Cornmeal
- ¼ Cup All-purpose Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Tbsps Hot Sauce
- ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 3 tsps Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 tsps Salt
- Canola Oil
Directions
- Make sure your fish has been descaled, gutted and cleaned
- In a small dish combine the eggs and hot sauce
- Whisk until well combined
- In a separate dish combine the cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt and pepper
- Dredge the fish in the egg wash then the cornmeal mixture then place on a wire rack
- Using medium high heat, deep fry the fish for 5 minutes
- After 5 minutes it is ready to serve.