Farm-Raised Catfish is a Staple Among Seafood in Louisiana
Sandwiched between the Fourth of July and Labor Day is one of our favorite mouth-watering holidays, National Catfish Month, celebrated each year through the month of August since 1984. The catfish is king in terms of Louisiana seafood, and it’s a beloved catch celebrated in multiple regional festivals and menu items alike. But why should you eat Louisiana catfish this month?
Farm-raised catfish is a staple of home cooks around Louisiana, and we can understand why. It’s super affordable, easy to prepare, and absolutely delicious whether broiled, pan seared, or especially fried. White, flaky, and tender, the catfish lends itself to a variety of different recipes, both decadent and healthy. A bottom-dwelling fish, catfish has whisker-like barbels around the mouth, hence the name.
Check out these 10 Best Catfish Recipes including Catfish Cakes, Cajun Pecan Crusted Catfish, Memphis Style Catfish and Tuscan Catfish. You can also try your hand at New Orleans’ Chef John Folse’s Spicy Catfish Puffs recipe on Louisiana Kitchen & Culture.
{{cta(‘7abbf6df-88ef-44be-907c-107c9654828e’)}}
Catfish are Sustainable
Catfish can be caught at almost any time of year in Louisiana, and are one of the most sustainable fish out there. There are many species (including flathead, blue and channel catfish), and they range vastly in size, from less than a pound to 100 pounds or more. Louisiana catfish are found in waters including ponds, streams, lakes, rivers and backwaters, and are safe to eat when farm raised in the U.S. because of responsible sustainable practices. Catfish are low on the food chain, so consuming farmed catfish means lower impact on marine ecosystems.
Catfish are bottom feeders but farm-raised catfish have learned to feed on scientifically-formulated pellets that float on top of the water. These high-protein pellets are healthier for the fish and improves their flavor, as the catfish aren’t taking in mud like their wild bottom-dweller cousins. Catfish has a mild flavor and is a versatile protein that can be substituted for most recipes calling for cod, haddock or tilapia. You can even {{cta(‘4e280bd8-379a-42f2-99da-ebd3a300f99c’)}} from Deanie’s Seafood Market to prepare at home.
Catfish are Good for you
The USDA Guidelines recommend eating seafood at least twice a week, but only 1 in 10 of us are actually doing that. Eating fish once or twice a week has been associated with a 36% reduction in death from heart disease and a 17% reduction in death from any cause.
Catfish is high in protein, nutrients, and omega-3 as well as omega-6 fatty acids. Louisiana catfish are also low in mercury and other toxins. Protein helps build muscle, boost your metabolism and also helps attention, cognitive function and mood.
Enjoy Catfish at Deanie’s Seafood
Deanie’s Seafood has served high quality farm raised catfish from Simmons Catfish in Yazoo City, Miss., for the last 30 years. At Deanie’s, you can enjoy catfish on our Fried Seafood Platter, which also includes shrimp, oysters, soft shell crabs, and crawfish balls. You can also try it on a poboy or fried or broiled catfish dinner.
Known for classic New Orleans cuisine and housemade recipes for Southern fried, boiled and broiled seafood, Deanie’s is a powerhouse in fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood offerings. We’ve been voted consistently by locals in categories like Best Seafood Restaurant, Best Oyster Po-Boy, Best BBQ Shrimp, and Best Place to Get Boiled Seafood in reader surveys by local publications including Where Y’at Magazine, Gambit, The Times Picayune and New Orleans Magazine.
Find out more about the seasonality of domestic seafood by downloading our Seafood Seasons Guide!