Red Hot Baked Fish

Since the time I am in USA I have grown very fond of Catfish. It may be mostly because it tastes quite same like the  Indian fishes I have grown up eating!!

I usually get them fresh, from the nearest super market called Schnucks. And most often they have plentiful of nuggets available. I pick up the nuggets all the time (and not fillets) as it saves me the trouble of cutting the fish. Nuggets don't even have the tiniest bone in them. Not just that, nuggets are mostly priced about $ 3 per pound where as fillets are about $ 5 per pound ;);) <wink><wink>. But yes my primary reason for picking up the nuggets still stays as the first one I mentioned above!! At the end nuggets and fillets all taste the same.

I cook all sorts of things with the nuggets, be it English or an Indian dish. I have some of these spices handy with which I thought of baking the nuggets one fine day and it was not just super quick, it tasted just super. So it needs to be shared with you. You could use it as a nice starter and also serve it as a main course dish. It is a dry dish which we enjoyed with some boiled veggies which was lightly sautéed in butter.

What I used :

(Served 2)

• Catfish - about 1 pound

• Canola oil - 2 Tbsp

• Garlic salt - 2 tsp

• Cayenne pepper - 1-2 tsp

• Paprika - 1 tsp

As a garnish / side -

• Few pieces of veggies - carrot, cauliflower, green beans, broccoli

• Little butter to sauté the veggies

How I Made it :

• Clean the fish. Since I was using nuggets they were already in small pieces. In case you have fillets or a big fish, please cut them into small chunks - say about 2 inches long pieces.

• Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl.

• Take the fish in a bigger bowl. Apply / brush the mixture nicely to the fish, making sure that all sides are covered uniformly with the mixture.

• Cover the bowl and leave it for about 10 mins (Do this only if you have time in hand else go straight to baking).

• Take out a baking dish. I used my ceramic one. Use a cooking spray or oil it lightly before placing the fish in it.

• Place the fish in the baking dish.

 

• Turn the oven to 450 degrees. Bake the fish for about 10 minutes.

• After 10 minutes, check the fish by poking it with a fork to see that it is cooked properly.

• Easy ways to know that the fish is done properly -
• The aroma / smell will tell you
• Fish would have swollen up
• Fish would easily peel off

• If you feel that the fish needs a little more time in the oven, leave it for another 2-3 minutes.

• Once the fish it done, it would have taken a lovely goldenish brownish colour - magic of the paprika and cayenne pepper!!

• For the side, Take a cup full of mix veggies like carrot, cauliflower, green beans, broccoli (I did not have green beans)

• Cook them in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes - idea is to leave them crunchy.

• Use the little butter in a pan and lightly sauté the veggies (about 1 min).

• Serve the hot fish on a plate along with the veggies.

Note :

• I haven't, but you please try this with some other variety of fish and let me know how was it.

• I generally use Canola oil for cooking; you may use any cooking oil.

• Use garlic powder if you have (instead of garlic salt) and add salt as per taste.

• Don't hesitate to add Cayenne as per your taste and make it more spicy.