Friday, August 27, 2010

Cajun Catfish Feast w/ Jalapeno Hush Puppies + Cajun Boogie

It's Friday in Cajun country and that means time for some fabulous Cajun seafood! The catfish were on sale at my favorite seafood market, so I bought 5 lb.'s and will be cooking it up several ways for dinner guests that I'm having tonight. First, I will be making a spicy shrimp and catfish stew and then frying up some spicy catfish strips, and jalapeno hush puppies. After sticking to my veggie diet, all week, I plan on diving into this sinful spread with no remorse! Cest bon, cher!

 
Spicy Catfish Strips

2 pounds catfish fillets,
1 /8 cup each, yellow mustard and creole mustard
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp. milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt to taste
Few shakes of hot sauce
1 tbsp. or more, Tony Chachere's Spices and Herbs seasoning
1/2 cup each of cornmeal and flour
1 cup vegetable oil

Wash fish and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and Tony's and cut into vertical strips. Combine mustard, egg and milk, few shakes of hot sauce and garlic powder. Toss fish in mustard mixture. Combine cornmeal and flour. Dredge coated fillets in cornmeal and flour mixture. Heat vegetable oil until hot. In large cast iron skillet, fry catfish strips until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Le bon manger!


Spicy Shrimp and Catfish Etouffee

3 lbs. catfish fillets
1 (1/2) lbs. shrimp, peeled and deveined
5 tbs.'s butter

5 tbs.'s flour
1 cup each , onions and bell pepper, chopped
2 ribs of celery, chopped
1/2 cup fresh mushroom caps, chopped
1 can Rotel tomatoes w/ green chilies
1 cup or more, seafood stock or water, (to desired thickness)
1/4 cup each, green onions and fresh parsley, chopped
2 tbs. Tony's Creole seasoning, or Cajun seasoning (divided)
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 tsp. McCormick's basil and garlic seasoning
2 whole lemons, quartered
3 bay leaves
Salt and Tabasco to taste.

Squeeze lemon juice on catfish and shrimp and rub with 1 tbs. Tony's Creole seasoning and 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning. Cut fish into quarters and set aside. In large heavy pot, on medium heat,  melt butter and add flour, and stir constantly for about 10 minutes. When roux is a light brown, lower the heat and add the onions, bell pepper, and celery, and chopped mushrooms  and continue to stir and cook for 5 minutes. If roux is too hot, add a little water and keep stirring.

Add seafood stock, salt, tomatoes, other tbs. Creole seasoning, basil and garlic seasoning, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, lower heat , and simmer for 30 minutes. Add hot sauce, catfish, and shrimp. Stir gently, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add green onions, parsley and simmer for 5 more minutes. Serve over cooked rice with a scoop of potato salad, cole slaw, and hushpuppies. Divinely delicious ! Serves 8



Jalapeno Hush Puppies

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tbs. sugar
2 tbs.'s flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp.'s baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk and a little more, if needed
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
2 cups vegetable oil, for frying


Combine all ingredients in the order given, in a large bowl and mix well, after each addition. Drop by spoonfuls into hot oil and deep fry until golden brown and they float to the top. Out of this world!
*****
Cajun Boogie 

I've had a few requests for some more Cajun Boogie. Well, it doesn't get any more Cajun than this, with this waltzing crowd, boogie-ing to the hot sounds of Wayne Toups and Zydecajun. Here is a little clip that I took at the Rhythm's on the River, Spring Finale' concert. Both Downtown Alive and Rhythms on the River are scheduled to resume in just a few short weeks, after a break for the summer, and I can't wait! See ya'll there! Let the good times roll, cher!

Hope ya'll have a fantastic, fun weekend! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

Wayne Toups and Zydecajun

21 comments:

fuat gencal said...

Ellerinize sağlık.

Saygılar.

judi/Gmj said...

OMG!! If I hadn't eaten dinner I would do it ... May be Sunday.
Have a great weekend.

Dee said...

Those hush puppies look yummy!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

mags... the jalapeño hush puppies are perfect as is for a meal i have planned... will be stealing this recipe soon! ;)

kitchen flavours said...

Your jalapeno husgpuppies looks great. Will have to try this! Great site you have here! Joining you! Found you through magic of spice. Congratulations on the award. Have a nice weekend!

ellen abbott said...

I guess I need to visit the fish market and see what they've got!

Pam said...

This is my kind of food! Yum!!! I just bought a deep fat fryer and will be trying your hushpuppies soon! Thanks for the recipe!

Drick said...

three great recipes - that's a great coating for catfish, my Lord, love it and like the lemon flavor in the stew - your hushpuppies - I could eat my weight in 'em

nanny said...

I've never had the stew....sounds wonderful.
Last time my grandson was here we fried catfish....I had white cornmeal and he said.."what's the matter nanny, you out of yellow cornmeal"? He doesn't miss a thing...

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

It sounds divine. I've learned my lesson: to eat before I drop in here!

The Good Cook said...

I just licked the screen of my computer. That, my friend, is good eating!

Laura said...

Marguerite you are such a good cook and a gracious hostess!

Laura

Do you have a video of Steve Riley and his band playing New Orleans Beat?

Eddie Bluelights said...

Sounds to me as though you are your one of your fav fish market's best customer. And you must be a fabulous host to your guests and of course a great cook.
Making me feel hungry again even though I have just had my evening meal LOL .,.

Marguerite said...

Fuat- Thanks, so glad you enjoyed it! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

judi- Thanks, cher! Hope you try the stew, it's divine! Hope yours was great, too!

Dee- Merci, so glad you like them, cher! They are deelish and I hope that you make them!

Dave- Merci beaucoup for your sweet comment and for stopping by. I would be honored if you did!

kitchen flavours- Hi and welcome! Thanks so much for your nice comment and for joining! I'm so happy to meet you and glad that you did! I will be visiting you, soon.

ellen- So good to hear from you! You should be able to get catfish, but if not, any kind of fish would work. Thanks for stopping by!

Magic of Spice said...

I love hush puppies...too much actually :) Fantastic meal, and that stew ;) Wow!

Pat Tillett said...

Another great post!
I love me some catfish...

Marguerite said...

Pam- Thanks, so glad that you want to make them! A deep fryer is excellent for fried fish and hushpuppies. Enjoy!

Drick- Merci beaucoup for your sweet comment, cher! It's an old recipe, handed down, and adds a lot of flavor. Hope you make all three!

nanny- Thanks, the stew is "out of this world"! The more hot sauce, the better! lol So cute, kids don't miss a thing!

Trish- Thanks, I think that's probably a good idea! lol Thanks for stopping by!

Good Cook- So good to hear from you, cher! Merci beaucoup for the nice compliments and for coming by! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Laura- Thanks so much for your kind words. I have this song on my blog, and on a CD but I couldn't find a video. It's a great song and I've heard them do it live many times.

Kittie Howard said...

Marguerite, you've got the magical touch. I know your catfish and stew will be delicious (I'm drooling now, actually) because your wraps and shrimp cakes below were beyond delicious (and recipes before them...gonna have to keep you posted.) Cher, you know how to balance your seasonings for all to come together in a burst of flavor. Hope you're writing that cookbook!!

Kat said...

Darn, I wish I were a Cajun living in Cajun Country. I would gladly eat veggies all week so I could endulge in that fabulous Catfish and Jalapeno Hushpuppies. And then dance the weekend away! I have never been successful at making hushpuppies. I will make a note of these. Yours look perfect. My M-I-L used to make the best hushpuppies. I guess you have to have that deep southern blood running in you veins! lol.

Marguerite said...

Eddie- You are right, cher, if not THE best customer! Believe me, I have helped him buy a few things, over the years, lol Merci for your sweet compliments, mon ami! You are such a good friend!

Spice- Thanks, me too! I don't make them too often, for that very reason. lol And I grew up eating the stew, every Friday! Either shrimp and fish, or shrimp and crab, or all three! Thanks for stopping by!

Pat- Thanks so much for your nice comment! Hope you try the catfish recipe! It is awesome!

Kittie- Thanks, cher, for the lovely compliments! I learned how to cook from the best cook on the planet, my mother. Many of these recipes are hers, so I can't take all of the credit. So glad that you're enjoying them. I am hoping to publish my cookbook, in the Spring. I am in the editing phase now and it is so tedious!

Kat- I wish that you lived here, too. We would have a blast! Hushpuppies are kinda tricky. I use a melon ball scoop to make them round, but I guess the Southern blood helps! lol

Chris said...

Here via Larry's blog. I have to try the hush puppies, I'm still trying to find the perfect one.