What Is Catfish and How Can I Use It?
Catfish is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 15 recipes to get you started.
What is catfish?
Catfish are easy to farm in warm climates, leading to inexpensive and safe food at local grocers.
Catfish is eaten in a variety of ways; in Europe it is often cooked in similar ways to carp, but in the United States it is typically crumbed withcornmeal and fried.
Catfish is high in Vitamin D. Farm-raised catfish contains low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and a much higher proportion of omega-6 fatty acids.
Vietnamese catfish cannot be legally marketed as catfish in the US, and is subsequently referred to as "swai", or basa.
Where found
Catfish is usually found in the seafood section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
| In Chinese: | 鲶鱼 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | poisson-chat | |
| en español: | bagre |
Recipes using catfish
There are 15 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Catfish & Crawfish Mold
A creamy Cajun appetizer mold blending catfish and crawfish with cream cheese, white wine, hot sauce, and Worcestershire. No cooking required. Just chill overnight and serve with crackers.
Southern Smokies Catfish Pate
Smoky Southern catfish pate blended with cream cheese, butter, red wine, garlic, and lemon. A silky, no-cook spread served chilled on toast fingers with a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Italian-Style Fish & Vegetables
One-skillet Italian fish with mushrooms, fennel, basil, and tomato slices topped with melted Parmesan. Use catfish, orange roughy, or sole for a complete dinner in under 25 minutes.
Front Porch Fried Catfish
Front porch fried catfish dipped in buttermilk and coated in seasoned cornbread stuffing mix with garlic, thyme, and red pepper. Deep-fried golden in just 2 to 3 minutes per batch.
Baked Catfish A'La Meuni'Ere
Cajun-style baked catfish coated in cracker meal and Parmesan with lemon-herb seasoning, baked in rich meunière sauce until flaky. A Southern fish fry without the fryer.
Steamed Fish
Fish fillets stuffed with mushrooms, bacon, ginger, and scallions, then steamed with white wine and soy sauce. Works with catfish, trout, or flounder. A light, flavorful fish dinner in 40 minutes.
Fisherman's Pie
Fisherman's pie with cod, catfish, shrimp, and crab in a creamy Tabasco-spiked sauce, topped with piped mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese in a potato shell crust.
Baked Catfish & Pecans
Pan-seared catfish fillets baked under a buttery pecan sauce with lemon zest, Worcestershire, and red chili. Southern-style fish that's crispy, nutty, and on the table in 30 minutes.
Jungle Curry with Catfish - Gaeng Paa Pla Dook *
Thai jungle curry with catfish, homemade curry paste, Thai eggplant, and kaffir lime leaves. A fiery, coconut-free curry that's broth-based, bold, and ready in 20 minutes.
Catfish Chowder
Smoky bacon, tender potatoes, corn, and tomatoes simmered into a chunky chowder with catfish fillets stirred in at the end. A 30-minute Southern comfort bowl.
Creole Mexican Catfish
A succulent dish that brings some variety to the dinner table and a savory flavor everyone will enjoy.
Sauteed Catfish with Ginger Peach Sauce
Sauteed catfish dredged in thyme-flour, pan-fried golden, then plated under a sweet-tangy ginger peach sauce and toasted pecans. The Southern fish-fry tradition meets summer fruit in one elegant skillet dinner.
Fried Catfish Batter
Southern fried catfish, a classic with mustard-brushed fillets dredged in seasoned cornmeal and fried golden crisp. The crackling cornmeal crust is the whole point.
Amazing Catfish Stew
Southern-style catfish stew with bacon, bell peppers, okra, diced tomatoes, and chunks of catfish in a smoky-savory fish stock broth. A Lowcountry one-pot dinner for chilly nights.
