2 In The Kitchen: Chef Jesse Jones Cooks Up Southern Fried Catfish

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Chef Jesse Jones stopped by the CBS 2 studios to cook up more of his extreme comfort food. This time it's Southern fried catfish with the sweet potato waffles.

For more information on Chef Jesse, check out his website, or look for him on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe (.pdf)

Chef Jesse Southern fried Catfish

4 to 6oz  fresh catfish Filet

Chef Jesse's Spice Blend

1 tablespoon Sweet Paprika

2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

1- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

1-1/2 teaspoon granulated onion

1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced

1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, minced

combine all ingredients in a bowl, set aside

Seasoned Cornmeal Mix

1 Cup Cornmeal ( Indian Head)

1/2 cup Corn Flour ( local health food store)

1/2 cup All-purpose flour

2 tablespoon of Chef Jesse's spice blend

mix together in medium bowl and set aside

Wet mixture

1-1/2 cup light Buttermilk

1 teaspoon or 3 dashes of Franks red hot

Directions

In a bowl ,add buttermilk, 1 tablespoon of Chef Jesse's Blend and Frank's red hot.

add catfish, mix well, marinate overnight in baggie.

Next day Prep

Remove Catfish from Buttermilk, discard the buttermilk mixture, drain well, shaking excess

In a shallow pan add cornmeal mixture, dredge Catfish, coating well , shake off excess, In a electric fryer or cast iron pot, heat Canola oil at 365 degrees, fry catfish until crispy and starts to float ,about 6 to 8 minutes, drain on paper towel.

Sweet Potato Waffles

makes 4 to 5 waffles

2 cups Pastry Flour

3 teaspoon baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar

2 teaspoon light brown Sugar

3 egg yolks, separated, save whites

1 -1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 small Sweet Potato- baked, peeled and mashed ( 4oz)

Pre-heat waffle iron

Sift together, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and allspice. place in medium bowl.

In medium bowl combine, egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter, oil, vanilla and sweet potato, mix together.

add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix gently, until combined, don't over mix. then beat the egg whites until frothy and fluffy, gently fold into waffle mix, let rest few minutes

Spray waffle iron, ladle 4 to 6oz batter, follow cook time for iron.