Saturday, June 6, 2009

Faux Fried Favorites

As healthy as I try to be fried foods are still a tasty tasty thing, and fried green tomatoes scream summer time to me. I guess it's because they are all over the farmers markets (and my backyard right now) so in an attempt to make my favorite treat slightly less awful for those who enjoy it, I delved into the wacky work of 'oven' fried.

Cornmeal-Battered Oven-Fried Catfish
Ingredients

1 tsp Lemon Pepper
1 tsp Cayenne
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground
1/2 cup(s) Skim Milk
Cooking Spray
1 pound(s) Catfish Fillet(s), cut into 4 pieces
1 medium lemon(s), quartered
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a large nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a shallow soup bowl, combine cornmeal, paprika, cayenne, salt, lemon pepper, garlic powder and pepper. Pour milk into another shallow soup bowl.
3. Dredge fillets first in milk and then in cornmeal mixture, coating both sides and pressing cornmeal mixture gently to adhere. Place coated fillets on baking sheet and lightly spray each with cooking spray.
4. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Let stand at room temperature 2 minutes before serving with asparagus and lemon wedges.

Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes
2 Cups Panko
2 Cups Parmesan Cheese
2 Egg Whites
Salt, Pepper
Vegetable Oil Spray
3 Sliced Green Tomatoes

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Mix panko, salt, pepper and parmesan in a shallow bowl.
3. Place egg whites in a separate shallow bowl.
4. Dip tomato slices in egg white then in panko mix, coat both sides then set on baking pan.
5. Cook five to six minutes on each side, when they are flipped, spray with additional veggie oil.

Wish I had some of these ready (or someone who wanted to make them for me), starting at 11AM today and finishing up around 6:30PM I have been helping my parents unpack, move and work with their mountains of boxes after their return from Mexico so I am beat...any volunteers to do the faux-frying :)




20 comments:

Christo Gonzales said...

I will take a catfish sandwich please - everything looks so tasty -

Heather S-G said...

Yum, me too...I love fried or "fried" green tomatoes!!

Kristen said...

All looks so yummy!

Reeni said...

I'd gladly help if I could share in this delicious dinner. That's one of the things I look forward to - green tomatoes from my garden to fry up - mmmmmmmmm!!!

Jennifer said...

I really appreciate those unfreid recipes...now go get some rest!

Anonymous said...

Cheers, my friend, and thanks so much for the update! Love the title by the way!LOL
I didn't realized that grilled green tomatoes was also one way to cook zucchini!
You learn something every day!
Thanks for sharing!
Robert-Gilles

Chef E said...

I have not made it in a while, but you reminded me of a baked fried chicken recipe I made...I could get into some green tomatoes right now...

grace said...

i can't say that i'm a fish fan, but buddy, you'd better believe i'd have my way with your fried green tomatoes. supreme. :)

Kerstin said...

What a great Southern meal :) I have always wanted to try fried green tomatoes! Love that you tried the overn "frying".

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I'd like to place me order. i want the whole platter. Girlfriend you completely out did yourself!

Denise said...

I will take some of everything. It all looks so good

Anonymous said...

Great idea to oven fried - everything looks delicious!

Gloria Chadwick said...

I love "oven-fried" food. Just think of all the calories you're saving. :)

Anonymous said...

We lurve catfish...especially fried. Thats' the only way our Southern roots know how to have it.

Anonymous said...

You could have fooled me...That really does look deep-fried to me! nice and crunchy...YES! A healthy alternative to fried southern food!

♥peachkins♥ said...

I've been wanting to try Fried Green tomatoes only i have to wait for tomato season.Do you have a dip for the tomatoes?

♥Rosie♥ said...

I've never tried catfish before but oh my this looks so delish!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Wow! The catfish looks so crispy - just the way I like it. Now, jsut pass the tarter sauce!

Tangled Noodle said...

I miss catfish so much! I don't find them in MN as much (more walleye) but catfish anything was a favorite when we lived in NC and GA. These looks so crispy good - thank you for coming up with a way to get 'fried' w/o frying! 8-)

One thing: I didn't see amounts for the cornmeal and paprika on your ingredients list - how much of those is used?

Dee said...

Better be ready soon to make some of these faux fried green tomatoes...the tomatoes are waiting!!