This Keto Crispy Southern-Style Fried Catfish has a tender and flaky texture. We prepare this catfish with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, oregano, crushed pork rinds, almond flour, eggs, heavy cream, avocado oil, lemon, and parsley. This catfish contains about 500 calories and 5 g of total carbs. This catfish takes almost 30 minutes to prepare and cook. This Keto Crispy Southern-Style Fried Catfish is excellent for lunch, dinner, family meals, weekend comfort food, Southern-inspired gatherings, and easy keto meals. You can serve this catfish with Keto Coleslaw, Cauliflower Mash, Garlic Butter Broccoli, Southern Green Beans, or Sugar-Free Tartar Sauce.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
STATS:
- Course: Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
- No. of Calories: 500 kcal
- Diet: Keto
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cuisine: Southern American
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Portion Size: 1 catfish fillet
- Cooking Mode: Shallow-Frying
- Total Servings: 6 fillets
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Total Carbs: 5 g
TOOLS:
- Bowls
- Whisk
- Food processor
- Skillet
- Tongs
- Wire rack
- Meat thermometer
- Measuring cups and spoons
INGREDIENTS:
KETO CATFISH:
- 2½ lb. catfish fillets
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- One tsp. garlic powder
- One tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp. thyme
- ½ tsp. oregano
KETO CRISPY COATING:
- 1½ cups crushed pork rinds
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
- ¼ tsp. salt
EGG WASH:
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. heavy cream
- 1 tsp. hot sauce
- FOR FRYING:
- ¾ cup avocado oil
SERVING:
- 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp. parsley
INGREDIENT NOTES AND THEIR KETO SUBSTITUTIONS:
CATFISH:
- We utilize catfish because it has a mild flavor and tender, flaky texture that works perfectly with Southern-style seasoning. As a substitute, you can use tilapia, cod, or haddock.
PORK RINDS:
- Crushed pork rinds provide a crispy, crunchy coating without using traditional flour or cornmeal. As a substitute, you can use additional almond flour or sunflower seed flour.
ALMOND FLOUR:
- Almond flour helps create structure and adds a lightly nutty flavor to the coating. For a nut-free option, use sunflower seed flour.
EGGS:
- Eggs help the keto coating adhere firmly to the catfish. They can be combined with heavy cream to create a richer coating.
HEAVY CREAM:
- Heavy cream adds richness and helps the coating stick to the fish. As an alternative, you can use unsweetened almond milk.
AVOCADO OIL:
- We utilize avocado oil because it works well for high-heat cooking and has a mild flavor. You can substitute refined coconut oil.
CAYENNE PEPPER:
- Cayenne provides a spicy Southern-style flavor. Reduce or omit it if you prefer mild catfish.
SMOKED PAPRIKA:
- Smoked paprika adds color and a subtle smoky flavor. You can use regular paprika instead.
LEMON AND PARSLEY:
- Lemon adds freshness and balances the richness of the fried coating, while parsley adds a fresh finish. You can use lime and cilantro as an alternative.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Completely dry the catfish using paper towels.
- Stir the oregano, salt, paprika, thyme, garlic powder, cayenne, onion powder, and pepper; garnish the catfish.
- Whisk the salt, crushed pork rinds, pepper, almond flour, onion powder, paprika, and garlic powder in a shallow dish.
- Mix the hot sauce, eggs, and heavy cream in a different dish.
- We dip all the fillets into the egg mixture, then firmly press them into the keto coating.
- Warm the avocado oil in a pan to 365°Fahrenheit.
- Fry the catfish till become crispy and golden, for almost five minutes.
- Cook till the inside temperature becomes 63°Celcius.
- Put on a wire rack to strain, sprinkle the parsley, & serve with lemon wedges.
TIPS:
- Completely dry the catfish first, then coat and season it.
- Avoid crowding the pan too much, as this can decrease the oil temperature.
- Strain out the fried catfish on a wire rack to retain its crunchy texture.
- Serve quickly for a perfect texture.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
SALADS:
- Cucumber Avocado Salad
- Southern Cucumber Salad
- Broccoli Salad
- Garden Green Salad
- Parmesan Arugula Salad
VEGETABLES:
- Garlic Butter Broccoli
- Southern Green Beans
- Roasted Asparagus
- Sautéed Collard Greens
- Buttered Spinach
DIPS & SAUCES:
- Sugar-Free Tartar Sauce
- Cajun Remoulade
- Garlic Aioli
- Spicy Mayo
- Lemon Herb Butter
SIDES:
- Cauliflower Mash
- Keto Coleslaw
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Garlic Zucchini
- Creamed Spinach
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Put the cooled catfish in a closed box and stock them for a maximum of 3 days.
FREEZER:
- Store completely cooled catfish for just 2 months.
FAQs:
Could we prepare this catfish without pork rinds?
- Yes, you can alternate the pork rinds with sunflower seed flour or extra almond flour, although the coating will be lightly less crispy.
How could we prepare the catfish crispier?
- We utilize finely crushed pork rinds, maintain the oil temperature between 350–365° Fahrenheit, and do not crowd the pan.
May we prepare this catfish by air-frying?
- Yes, you can air-fry the coated catfish at 200° Celcius for almost fourteen minutes.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
NUTRITIONAL FACTS:
No. of Calories: 500 kcal
Sodium: 850 mg
Net Carbs: 3 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 1 g
Fats: 31 g
Proteins: 45 g
Portion Size: 1 catfish fillet
Total Carbs: 5 g