“I just think of big ugly fish with whiskers,” one colleague responded when this menu was announced. But after a sample, she gave it a thumbs up for its delicate flavor. So did the taster who blurted out the description “bottom feeder” before sampling a bite.
If an advertising campaign can succeed in upgrading the lowly prune into dried plums, I would say it’s time to gather a marketing team that can come up with a catchy new name for catfish.
In the meantime, if you plan to feed doubters, you could refer to this refreshing dish as fish fillets with tomatoes and pecans.
Menu
Catfish with spicy tomato sauce and pecans
Wild rice pilaf
French green beans
Biscuits and honey
Vanilla ice cream, butter cookies
Sweetened iced tea
Tips
Pecan toasting isn’t mandatory. When pressed for time use them straight from the bag.
Substitute any white fish fillet for catfish.
When vine-ripened tomatoes become irresistible, substitute them for the canned.
Catfish with spicy tomato sauce and pecans
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) tomatoes
5 green onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup toasted pecan halves, see note
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 limes, juice and zest of 1, the other cut into wedges
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 catfish fillets or other white fish
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine tomatoes, onions, garlic, pecans, cilantro, olive oil, red pepper flakes, lime juice, zest, salt and pepper in a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Place fillets in a greased baking dish; season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Pour tomato mixture over fish. Bake until fish begins to flake, about 20 minutes. Serve with lime wedges.
Note: Toast pecan halves in single layer on a baking sheet in a 400-degree oven 5 minutes.
Nutrition information per serving:
487 calories, 61% of calories from fat, 35 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, 101 mg cholesterol, 13 g carbohydrates, 38 g protein, 512 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
