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BAKING, COOKING, RECIPES

Celebrate Pecan Month With Sweet and Savory Dishes

Name: Pecan Crusted Catfish with Maple Orange Dressing
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: Vegetable oil, for frying; 1 1/3 to 2 pounds catfish filets; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 eggs, beaten well, with a splash of milk; 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs; 1 cup pecans, finely chopped; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated or ground; 1 orange, zested (juice is used in dressing); Dressing – I serve it on the side so family and friends can put on the amount they choose; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1/4 cup favorite barbecue sauce; 1 navel orange, juiced; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Your family’s favorite green salad ingredients

Celebrate Pecan Month With Sweet and Savory Dishes

Say "pecans" and most people think of pies and other delicious desserts. But the rich flavor of the pecan makes it ideal for savory dishes, too. And since April is National Pecan Month, it's the perfect time to enjoy these versatile nuts!

Pecan trees are related to hickory trees and grow native in many areas of the south eastern states. Picking up the ripe nuts before squirrels do is the hard part. But in case the squirrels are faster than you, pecans are readily available whole or already cracked in the store. (Note: Wild pecans are harder to crack than the paper shell nuts that are sold commercially – in either case, a good nutcracker will be your best friend.)

Pecan Crusted Catfish with Maple Orange Dressing

Dori Fritzinger

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

30 minutes

Say “pecans” and most people think of pies and other delicious desserts. But the rich flavor of the pecan makes it ideal for savory dishes, too. And since April is National Pecan Month, it’s the perfect time to enjoy these versatile nuts!Pecan tre...

Ingredients

Vegetable oil, for frying
1 1/3 to 2 pounds catfish filets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten well, with a splash of milk
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated or ground
1 orange, zested (juice is used in dressing)
Dressing – I serve it on the side so family and friends can put on the amount they choose
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup favorite barbecue sauce
1 navel orange, juiced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Your family’s favorite green salad ingredients

Instructions

Using a paper towel, blot fish filets dry.
Season catfish with salt and pepper.
Set out 3 shallow dishes. Place flour in 1 dish, eggs beaten with water or milk in a second. In the third dish, combine bread crumbs with ground pecans, nutmeg and orange zest.
Coat filets in batches in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture.
Fry filets in small batches 6 to 7 minutes.
Drain catfish on paper towels.
Combine maple syrup, barbecue sauce and orange juice in a bowl.
Whisk in oil and season with salt and pepper.
Combine green salad ingredients in a large salad bowl and serve along with fish (dressing on the side.)