Skillet Supper Series: Catfish Etouffee

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I love it when food not only tastes good, but it sounds good, too. Dishes that sound festive or exotic often have more appeal to me. Like Jambalaya, Tabbouleh, and this Etouffee. An etouffee—pronounced A-too-FAY—is a type of stew in which generally shellfish is smothered in a seasoned vegetable mixture and served with rice. I’ve mentioned before that a good friend of ours likes to fish for catfish in his spare time and always catches more than he can possibly eat by himself. We are always equally well stocked with venison from family members and friends who hunt. So we do some casual bartering from time to time. Mr. GFE will show up with some packages of catfish from Jack. Then for Mr. GFE’s next visit to Jack, I hand him some packages of ground venison as he heads out the door. It’s a great system!

While usually I fry the catfish (using the same cornmeal breading that I used on these Southern Fried Oysters and this Fried Calamari), I really wanted to try something different and out of the blue etouffee popped into my head. I searched online and found a fairly simple recipe on a Cajun website. A few changes here and there—including the addition of zucchini and tomatoes (so often my “go to” fresh veggies)–and we were enjoying this delicious new dish!

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

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup gluten-free flour
1 cup onions, chopped in large chunks
1 cup zucchini, chopped
2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
2 – 3 cloves, garlic, chopped or minced
2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 tsp sea salt
dash of Tabasco (optional)
1 – 2 lbs catfish pieces (or similar fish, nugget sized) 

Instructions

Heat olive oil on medium-high in large, deep skillet about half a minute or so. Add flour and cook until it thickens and turns into a roux, which will only take a few minutes. Stir frequently. (Be careful not to overcook.) 

Add vegetables and sauté 10 – 15 minutes, stirring often. 

Add broth. Stir and simmer about 5 minutes. 

Add seasonings and catfish; continue cooking over medium heat for about 20 minutes or until sauce is reduced to “gravy” consistency.

Serve over rice. Makes 5 to 6 servings.

Adapted from www.cajun-recipes.com

Shirley’s Notes: A lighter flour mix works best. I used my gluten-free all-purpose flour mix (3 parts Asian white rice flour and 2 parts cornstarch, which I combine ahead and use measure for measure for breading). Other vegetables may be used depending upon your personal preferences and what you have on hand. If you wish to use another fish, it’s best to use one that is similar in thickness and heartiness. If you use a fish that’s lighter in flavor and texture, do not add fish until about halfway through final cooking time.

Previous posts in the Skillet Supper Series:

Hamburger Helper-Roni

Sloppy Joes

Combination Fried Rice

Not just gf, but gfe!