Keith Lusher 01.17.24
Right here in South Louisiana, we be taught to understand the chilly climate that January gives. Together with the chilly climate, we even have explicit dishes that we save for these chilly mid-winter days. A kind of dishes is a mix of two sorts of meals which will appear odd: Fish and Beans. But it surely’s these two sorts of meals that I’ve come to sit up for when winter rolls round. The concept was launched to me by an outdated Cajun buddy Benny Boudreaux who served up the dish to me again within the 90s. Boudreaux was a real cajun and appeared to have a novel recipe for each kind of seafood that he caught on the bayou. Boudreaux did all of it. He hunted, he fished, and he set traps for fur to promote on the market. He was actually a jack of all trades and a grasp within the kitchen.
Since being launched to fried crappie and white beans, I’ve made this dish a wintertime custom and sit up for once I can whip up this cold-weather favourite. In case you are eager about attempting this dish out it’s necessary to pick out the best fillet of fish. When combining fried fish with white beans I’ve discovered that it’s crucial to decide on a mild-flavored fish. This implies selecting fish that doesn’t style fishy so this guidelines out all fish with bloodlines within the meat. I’ve discovered that crappie works finest with this dish so I solely use one of these fish when making this dish. Let’s begin with how I fry my fish after which we’ll transfer on to the white beans and rice.
Fried Crappie
- Crappie fillets
- Louisiana Fish Fry (New Orleans Type)
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- Vegetable oil
When frying my fish I begin with small to medium-sized crappie fillets. For an eggwash, I merely use yellow mustard. The mustard works completely to assist the batter adhere to the fish and provides the proper taste to the fish in the long run. For the batter, I take advantage of Louisiana New Orleans Type Fish Fry. Out of all of the barbeque merchandise I’ve tried with this recipe, the Louisiana model works finest and has the crispiest coating which is necessary when combining the fish with the white beans. After heating the vegetable oil to 370 levels I add the fish and go away it in for 5 minutes or till it reaches a golden brown coloration. After getting carried out with all the crappie fillets I set to the aspect in a separate container to be added to the white beans and rice at each meal. Be certain to not add the fish to the beans till you’re able to eat the meal because the fried fish will take in the moisture from the beans and turn out to be soggy.
White Beans and Rice
- White beans
- White rice
- Seasoning mix: yellow onion, inexperienced onions, bell pepper, parsley, and garlic.
- Chopped bacon
- Pickle meat
- Hambone
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Bay leaves
- Kitchen bouquet
- liquid crab boil
When getting ready the beans and rice I begin with the white rice. Whereas boiling the rice is an choice I’ve gotten a bit lazy in my outdated age and resort to the microwave when making the rice. The recipe is straightforward.
Add 2 cups white to 4 cups of water in a lined dish
Microwave for 7 minutes after which let it sit for two minutes.
Microwave for one more 7 minutes and take out the dish to sit down for a minimum of quarter-hour with the lid off. This enables the rice to dry out a bit.
When cooking the beans I take advantage of a big Magnalite pot.
Add the seasoning mix to your style. (yellow onion, inexperienced onions, bell pepper, parsley, and garlic)
Add 1 pack of finely chopped bacon
Add pickle meat and a ham bone and prepare dinner on medium warmth till all of it begins to caramelize.
Add water, beans, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, bay leaves, a splash of Kitchen Bouquet, and a cap filled with liquid crab boil. Prepare dinner on a light-weight hearth for six hours stirring
When the beans are carried out I add them to a container and put the rice in a separate container.
So in the long run, I’ve three separate containers of rice, white beans, and fried fish. Once I’m able to eat I add the rice to the white beans then line the sting of the plate or bowl with the fried crappie fillets and warmth the whole dish up. For many who like yellow mustard of their white beans, this dish tastes nice as effectively. After all, no bean dish is full with out a aspect of cornbread. As with every recipe, you’ll wish to gauge the elements and regulate it to your particular style with future recipes. Give this recipe a strive. I’m certain this can turn out to be certainly one of your favourite dishes, particularly in the course of the chilly winter months!
