• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup water
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 pound catfish fillets, cut in strips
• 1 1/2 cups fine cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay(TM)
• 1 quart vegetable oil for deep frying

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix buttermilk, water, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture into a flat pan large enough to hold the fillets. Spread fish in one layer over bottom of pan, turning to coat each side, and set aside to marinate.
2. In a 2-gallon ziploc plastic bag, combine the cornmeal, flour, and seafood seasoning. Add fish to mixture, a few fillets at a time, and tumble gently to coat evenly.
3. Heat oil in deep fryer to 365 degrees F
4. Deep fry fillets until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Avoid overcrowding so fillets have room to brown properly. Fish should be slightly crisp outside, and moist and flaky inside. Drain on paper towels.

Peanut oil, for frying

1 cup yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup self-rising flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 small Vidalia onion, finely grated

4 scallions, thinly sliced

1 cup buttermilk

1 large egg, beaten

1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat 2 inches peanut oil in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven to 375 degrees F. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, 1 teaspoon salt, the sugar, cayenne and paprika in a large bowl to get rid of the lumps. (No one likes a lumpy hushpuppy.) Mix in the remaining ingredients, stirring well to combine.
2. Dip 2 spoons into a mug of water (this allows the batter to come clean off). Scoop up about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the batter and carefully slide it into the hot oil, working in batches. Fry the scoops of batter 3 to 5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked all the way through (test the first one for doneness). Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined baking sheet, seasoning with salt as soon as they come out of the fryer.