Did you know that the catfish is the UK's largest freshwater fish? Cool temperatures and lack of food inhibit catfish from growing to their maximum size. In Europe, where they have plenty of food and warmer water, they can get much larger.
Catfish is a delicious fish that people around the world enjoy. The most common cooking method is deep-frying, especially in the southern United States. However, catfish can be baked, pan-fried, and grilled.
One of the best things about catfish is its sweet and mild flavour. This guide will discuss everything you need to know about how to cook catfish Caribbean style.
Why You Should Eat Catfish
Catfish is packed with healthy fats, minerals, protein, and vitamins. It's also low in sodium and calories, making it a great lean meat option.
Since catfish are nutrient-dense, they'll help you feel fuller for longer. It's an excellent choice for those wanting to ensure they get enough nutrients while staying on a low-calorie diet. Keep in mind that deep-friend catfish will add more fat and calories than other cooking methods.
The Best Catfish Recipes
There are plenty of catfish recipes that'll satisfy all of your cravings. Our favourite recipes are Caribbean fish dishes. Catfish lends itself well to dishes with a lot of spices and flavour.
If you don't have access to fresh catfish, no problem. You can use frozen catfish in any of these recipes. Just ensure you thaw it out first.
Caribbean Style Catfish
This recipe serves four people and will be ready in 45 minutes. Keep in mind that the recipe uses almonds. If you're serving the dish to someone with a nut intolerance, you'll want to leave them out.
Below are the ingredients you'll need:
- Two tablespoons margarine
- Four catfish fillets
- 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- Four tablespoons of chopped onions
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Four tablespoons of lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon of oregano
- One tablespoon of chopped parsley or coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- Two cups of water
- Two cloves of crushed garlic
- Lime peel
- One teaspoon of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 204ºC. Melt the margarine in a nonstick skillet.
- Then, add two tablespoons of the onion and all of the green peppers. Saute the peppers and onions until the onions are transparent.
- Put the cooked onions and peppers into a bowl with the almonds, oregano, breadcrumbs, parsley or coriander, salt, and one tablespoon of lime juice. Mix the ingredients well.
- Lay your catfish fillets down on a cutting board. Spoon your filling into the centre of each fillet. Roll up the fillet, securing it with a toothpick.
- Combine the remaining onion, garlic, water, red pepper flakes, lime juice, and a bay leaf in a shallow baking dish. Place the rolled-up catfish into the pan.
- Bake the catfish for 30 to 25 minutes. You'll want to baste the catfish with the liquid in the pan throughout the baking process.
- Place the cooked catfish on a serving platter. Garnish it with the lime peel strips.
Caribbean Catfish With Black Bean and Mango Salsa
If you're crunched on time, you can serve the catfish with jarred salsa. You can also make the salsa ahead of time.
Here are the ingredients you'll need for the salsa:
- One 15-ounce can of drained and rinsed black beans
- One diced small mango
- One eight-ounce can of drained pineapple chunks
- Finely chop 1/2 of a red bell pepper
- One seeded and minced jalapeno pepper
- One teaspoon grated lime peel
- Two tablespoons of lime juice
- Two tablespoons of chopped cilantro
- One tablespoon of honey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
All you have to do is mix all the ingredients, and the salsa is ready to go. You can substitute the canned pineapple with fresh.
Below are the ingredients you'll need for the rest of the recipe:
- 1.5 pounds of catfish fillets
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Two teaspoons of Caribbean jerk seasoning
- One tablespoon of butter
- One tablespoon of vegetable oil
- Lime wedges for garnish
- Black bean and mango salsa
Instructions
- Lay out your catfish fillets on a cutting board or pan. Sprinkle them evenly with salt and jerk seasoning.
- Melt the butter in a big non-stick pan over medium heat. Once melted, add your fillets. Cook the catfish fillets for six to eight minutes per side.
- Serve the fillets immediately topped with your prepared salsa. You can garnish the fillets with lime wedges if desired.
Jamaican Jerk Catfish With Yellow Rice and Black Beans
If you're looking for a recipe that packs more heat, you're in the right place. This catfish recipe is filled with tantalizing spices and peppers. It's guaranteed to wake your palette up.
Here are the ingredients you need:
- Four catfish fillets
- One tablespoon of thyme
- One small to medium-sized habanero pepper
- One tablespoon of allspice
- One large onion
- Four cloves of garlic
- Three chopped green onions (green and white parts)
- Two tablespoons of brown sugar
- One teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- One tablespoon of kosher salt
- One teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- One teaspoon of ground ginger
- One teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 1/4 cup of oil
- Two tablespoons of lime juice
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- 1/4 cup of orange juice
- Lime wedges and chopped cilantro for garnish
- One can of black beans
- One package of yellow rice
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine all of your ingredients, except for the garnishes, rice, black beans, and catfish. Pulse the ingredients until combined.
- Put the catfish in a pan. Spread one to two tablespoons of the mixture over each catfish fillet until coated. Cover the dish with foil and marinate in the fridge for one hour.
- Prepare the black beans and yellow rice according to the package instructions. Preheat your oven to 176ºC.
- Put the catfish fillets in a greased baking dish. Bake them for 15 minutes or until they're done.
- Serve the catfish with the prepared beans and rice. Garnish the lime wedges and chopped cilantro.
Enjoy a Delicious and Flavor-Filled Catfish Meal
Catfish is a versatile fish that lends itself well to dishes with intense flavours. There are plenty of opportunities to experiment with the spices and vegetables used in these dishes. Adjust the seasoning to fit your needs.
Ready to get started whipping up these dishes at home? Check out our online grocery store filled with Afro-Caribbean products.