Bite-sized catfish dredged in seasoned cornmeal and fried. The party version of catfish — served in paper bags, eaten standing at the fish fry.
The nugget format is the fish fry format. When catfish is cut into nuggets it becomes portable, shareable, and community-scaled. You can make hundreds in a parking lot fryer. You can eat them standing up with one hand while you hold your cup with the other. The format is not an accident — it is the design of a social meal built for gathering.
Farmed catfish is lower in contaminants than wild-caught freshwater fish and still delivers meaningful omega-3s, vitamin D, and B12. The cornmeal crust adds iron and folate. Fried preparation increases calorie density but the protein content (20g per 3oz) remains high. A moderate portion at the fish fry is a complete protein source with cultural and social benefits that are themselves health-protective.
Cut catfish fillets into 2-inch nuggets. Season fish with hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Dredge in a mixture of cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and smoked paprika. Fry in peanut oil at 375°F in batches — do not crowd the pot — for 3-4 minutes until deeply golden and crispy. Drain on a wire rack. Serve immediately in paper bags or newspaper with hot sauce, white bread, and coleslaw.
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