Apparently, August is National Catfish Month. I grew up on the delicacy caught by my Uncles in the Reservoir (people from Mississippi understand) or by the kind of Black men who you knew would always be there if you ever needed them to be. Eschewed by some even in the Black community, shout out to my friends in the Nation, catfish is surprisingly healthy; it contains a generous amount of Omega-3 fatty acids and more than the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin B-12. Much of the catfish sold in grocery stores now is farm raised and not up to the standard of what I have become accustomed to – the exception being the fish from Mississippi. So, I pulled off a bit of catfishing myself, in the 21st Century definition of the term. I used wild caught Mahi Mahi, a fish that is accessible where I live, executed in a classic Southern pan fried preparation. I wasn’t sure I would succeed, but the results were pretty impressive. I wish I could say the same for the manner in which the Democratic Party continues to catfish Black voters.
For those who may not know, the modern definition of catfish is to lure someone into a relationship by a use of a fictional online persona. I feel like that is what the Democratic National Party has consistently done to Black voters. I credit President Obama with passing the Affordable Care Act sure, but he deliberately fumbled by not giving us universal health care and leaving the insurance companies the ability to bankrupt us if we dare get into a major accident or become seriously ill. Then he allowed Wall Street bankers to fleece primarily Black and Brown homeowners in 2008, wiping out a generation of wealth building in mere months. Incredibly, Wall Street was bailed out for the financial crisis they caused, while very few on Main Street were. So many people have not regained their financial footing since. Because Covid19 has now exacerbated unemployment numbers, it is difficult to imagine many more will.
Trayvon Martin died February 26, 2012 when President Obama was in office. Black men, women, and children continue to die by the hands and guns of police officers in disproportionate numbers nationwide. The numbers of killings have not significantly changed, the situation not abated. Joe Biden, author of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act has already stated he does not plan to defund the police, he will give them more money. Kamala Harris once called herself “the top cop.” Disappointingly, the usual suspects have been given star billing at the Democratic National Convention. Andrew Yang was ultimately added, but the 60 seconds allotted to AOC is insulting. If you have been catfished once, experiencing the same or a similar situation again is untenable; it is something I will try my damnedest to avoid. Serve the Pan Fried Mahi Mahi with my amazing Potato Salad for something to be encouraged about.
Pan Fried Mahi Mahi
Hawaiian Mahi Mahi is treated to Southern hospitality with my Pan Fried Mahi Mahi recipe. Delicately seasoned with a corn meal coating, the lightness of the dish makes it irresistibly good.
- Tongs
- Two Plates
- Shallow Bowl
- Medium Frying Pan
- 2 8 oz. Mahi Mahi fillets (Thawed)
- ½ Organic Lemon
- Garlic Powder
- Seafood Seasoning (This contains cayenne pepper so use sparingly.)
- Real Salt
- ½ cup Organic Corn Meal
- 3 tbsp Organic Cooking Oil (I used Walnut Oil. Any oil that can hold up to high heat is fine. )
Place oil into frying pan and heat to medium setting.
Rinse fish fillets and place onto a plate side by side.
Squeeze a little lemon juice onto each and sprinkle with the garlic powder and Seafood Seasoning.
Turn fillets over and repeat steps with lemon and seasonings. Set aside. (If longer than 30 minutes place in the refrigerator).
Place cornmeal into a shallow bowl. Season with salt to taste. Stir incorporating salt evenly.
Once the oil is hot, using tongs, take fish and coat each side in the cornmeal then place in the frying pan.
Cook approximately 3 minutes on each side.
Place cooked fish on a plate line with paper towels to drain off excess oil. Serve with potato salad, corn-on-the-cob, fried cabbage or coleslaw.
I stopped looking at your recipe when you started getting political.
So, that’s how it came out.
Nothing I wrote is “political” Terry, it’s factual and personal. If you can’t stand the heat stay out of my kitchen.
I’d never had pan fried mahi before and I am glad I now have. The crust had a great crunch and the fish was perfectly flavored.
This recipe was so easy and turned out absolutely delicious!
Mahi Mahi is one of my favorite fish! So this recipe was perfect and delicious.
Thanks Tamara!
Love the cornmeal coating on this Mahi Mahi! I’ll definitely be making this again.
I’ve never tried mahi mahi before now but it tasted absolutely delicious!
This fish dish turned out perfectly for dinner last night! I’ll be making it again.
I was a little confused about the ‘factual political comments’ – mostly the placement in the recipe – but after tasting the delicious mahi-mahi, I went back and read more carefully!
Delicious! Best wishes,
Steve
So glad you enjoyed the fish Steve. All the best!
I’m sure the recipe is fine. I am so grateful to see someone actually say something valuable as part of the dang blog post that I wouldn’t care if you told me to bread my fish in shark teeth.
Seriously though: there’s nothing more annoying than the self-important crap I read before I get to the recipe… “this recipe reminds me of all the magical times my family spent at the summer home on Cape Cod, with Mother drinking gin and my Father still not back from the golf club while all of us kids caught fireflies in the gardens…” (Gardens? PLURAL? Why is it always plural?)
Anyway, thanks for this, I’m sure it’s great and I’ll be reading more of your posts.
Thank you, I’ll be posting more frequently soon.
I actually agree with the comments you made, but we’re here for food recipes. Do you really have to interject your personal politics into everything?