Fried Catfish Served Over Dirty Rice with Cajun Crawfish Cream Sauce

Fried Catfish with Dirty Rice and Cajun Crawfish Cream Sauce is a Southern-inspired dish that combines crispy, golden catfish with smoky, savory rice and a rich, spicy sauce. Perfect for a special dinner or weekend feast, this dish balances textures and bold flavors, delivering a restaurant-quality meal at home. Each bite offers a satisfying crunch, tender fish, and creamy, zesty sauce that’s full of personality.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy & Tender – Catfish fillets fried to golden perfection.
Bold & Flavorful – Cajun-spiced rice and crawfish cream sauce pack a punch.
Impressive but Manageable – Perfect for entertaining or a flavorful dinner at home.
All-in-One Meal – Fish, rice, and sauce come together for a complete dish.

Ingredients

For the Fried Catfish:

• 4 catfish fillets
• ½ cup cornmeal
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• Vegetable oil, for frying

For the Dirty Rice:

• 1 cup long-grain rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ lb ground beef
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Cajun Crawfish Cream Sauce:

• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ cup cooked crawfish tails
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dirty Rice
   In a skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté until softened. Stir in rice, Cajun seasoning, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until rice is tender. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Prepare the Catfish
   Mix cornmeal, flour, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in a shallow dish. Dip each catfish fillet into beaten egg, then dredge in the cornmeal mixture.
3. Fry the Catfish
   Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry catfish fillets 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
4. Make the Crawfish Cream Sauce
   In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, chicken broth, paprika, and crawfish tails. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Assemble the Dish
   Serve fried catfish over a bed of dirty rice and generously top with Cajun crawfish cream sauce.

Nutritional Information

Calories: ~550
Protein: 35g
Fat: 28g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Sugar: 2g
Fiber: 3g

Tips for Success

• Use Fresh Catfish – Ensures tender, flaky fillets.
• Adjust Spice Levels – Increase cayenne or Cajun seasoning for extra heat.
• Keep Rice Fluffy – Avoid stirring too much while cooking dirty rice to maintain texture.

Why This Recipe Works

Crispy catfish pairs perfectly with the bold flavors of dirty rice, while the creamy, spicy crawfish sauce ties everything together. The combination of textures — crunchy, tender, and creamy — and layers of Southern-inspired flavors make this a standout dish.

Fried Catfish with Dirty Rice and Cajun Crawfish Cream Sauce is a show-stopping, flavor-packed meal that brings the taste of Southern cuisine to your table. Crispy fish, savory rice, and rich sauce make every bite memorable and satisfying.