Crispy Sesame-Crusted Fried Catfish with Soy-Ginger Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 fillets catfish fillets
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 large eggs
• 3 tbsp soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 1/2 cup neutral oil for frying (canola/vegetable)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prep (15 minutes total): Pat catfish dry. In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg. In another bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, sesame seeds, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

2. 2

   Dredge and fry (12 minutes total): Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Dip each fillet in egg, then press into the cornmeal-sesame mixture. Fry 4–6 minutes per side (until golden and cooked through). Transfer to a rack or paper towels.

3. 3

   Make sauce while fish cooks: In a small bowl or saucepan, combine soy sauce, grated ginger, honey, and rice vinegar. Simmer 1–2 minutes (or microwave 30–45 seconds) until glossy.

4. 4

   Serve: Spoon or drizzle soy-ginger sauce over the fried catfish and serve immediately.