Catfish Lafitte

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground red pepper, divided (may increase or decrease to taste)
• 4 (6 ounce) catfish fillets
• vegetable oil, for frying
• 12 large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/4 cup sweet vermouth
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1/4 cup thinly-sliced green onion, divided
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 pieces thinly-sliced ham, cut into strips (i use 'shaved' ham from the deli)
• lemon wedge, for garnish (optional, but i recommend)

Recipe

• 1 combine eggs and milk in mixing bowl; stir until thoroughly blended.
• 2 combine flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper in shallow dish, stirring well to mix. (i would suggest using 1/4 teaspoons red pepper if you're a wimp and 3/4 teaspoons if you're very bold. :) ).
• 3 pour enough oil into a dutch oven or electric skillet to reach a depth of 3 inches; heat to 360 degrees f.
• 4 rinse catfish fillets; pat dry with paper towels.
• 5 dredge fillets in flour mixture; dip in milk mixture to coat thoroughly; dredge in flour mixture a second time.
• 6 when oil reaches correct temperature, add catfish; deep-fry approximately 6 minutes, until golden-brown. (if done, fish should flake easily when scraped with the tines of a fork.).
• 7 drain catfish on paper towels to absorb excess grease; keep warm (microwave is good).
• 8 meanwhile, melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• 9 add shrimp and garlic; cook, stirring often, approximately 3 to 5 minutes, until shrimp are pink and done.
• 10 remove shrimp and set aside; add vermouth to drippings in skillet.
• 11 stir well to incorporate vermouth; bring to a boil; allow mixture to boil for 1 minute.
• 12 add whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sliced green onions, lemon juice, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining red pepper (again, add or subtract depending on how spicy you like your food); cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens (approx. 12-15 minutes).
• 13 to assemble, place one fried catfish fillet on each plate; drizzle with equal amounts of cajun cream sauce; top with cooked shrimp and strips of ham; sprinkle with remaining sliced green onion; garnish with lemon wedges to squeeze on top.