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Cornbread-Battered Catfish Nuggets with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

By Jessica Rudolph

Published on October 29, 2024

Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Cornbread-Battered Catfish Nuggets with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

1½ pounds sweet potatoes, unpeeled, cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges2 tablespoons vegetable oil 5 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided1½ teaspoons table salt, divided¾ cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving1 quart vegetable oil for frying1 cup corn corn muffin mix1 egg ¼ cup milk 1½ pounds skinless catfish fillets, cut into 1- to 2-inch chunks

Before You Begin

We developed this recipe with Jiffy brand corn muffin mix. Be sure to use untreated catfish. 

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Toss potatoes, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, and ¼ teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Arrange in single layer on prepared sheet. Roast until potatoes are lightly browned and tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise, mustard, lemon zest and juice, and remaining 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning in small bowl. Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 350 degrees.
  3. Whisk muffin mix, egg, and milk in large bowl until smooth. Sprinkle fish with remaining 1¼ teaspoons salt. Transfer fish to batter and toss to coat. Working with 1 piece at a time, remove half of fish from batter and transfer to oil. Fry fish until deep golden brown and crispy, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer fish to prepared rack. Repeat with remaining fish. Serve with lemon wedges.
Cornbread-Battered Catfish Nuggets with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Photography by Kritsada Panichgul. Styling by Elle Simone Scott.

Cornbread-Battered Catfish Nuggets with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

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Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1½ pounds sweet potatoes, unpeeled, cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1 cup corn corn muffin mix
1 egg
¼ cup milk
1½ pounds skinless catfish fillets, cut into 1- to 2-inch chunks

Ingredients

1½ pounds sweet potatoes, unpeeled, cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1 cup corn corn muffin mix
1 egg
¼ cup milk
1½ pounds skinless catfish fillets, cut into 1- to 2-inch chunks

Ingredients

1½ pounds sweet potatoes, unpeeled, cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1 cup corn corn muffin mix
1 egg
¼ cup milk
1½ pounds skinless catfish fillets, cut into 1- to 2-inch chunks

Why This Recipe Works

Store-bought muffin mix made a quick and easy cornmeal batter for fried catfish nuggets.

Before You Begin

We developed this recipe with Jiffy brand corn muffin mix. Be sure to use untreated catfish. 

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Toss potatoes, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, and ¼ teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Arrange in single layer on prepared sheet. Roast until potatoes are lightly browned and tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise, mustard, lemon zest and juice, and remaining 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning in small bowl. Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 350 degrees.
  3. Whisk muffin mix, egg, and milk in large bowl until smooth. Sprinkle fish with remaining 1¼ teaspoons salt. Transfer fish to batter and toss to coat. Working with 1 piece at a time, remove half of fish from batter and transfer to oil. Fry fish until deep golden brown and crispy, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer fish to prepared rack. Repeat with remaining fish. Serve with lemon wedges.

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