Seafood-Stuffed Catfish

Impress your family and guests with this elegant dish of catfish fillets stuffed with crab meat and shrimp.

Recipe Ingredients:

4 U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Fillets
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 tablespoons green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
4 ounces white crab meat, pasteurized
4 ounces freshwater prawns or shrimp, cooked and roughly chopped
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
Paprika for sprinkling
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. Place fillet rounded side up on cutting board. Form a pocket by making a slit lengthwise on thicker part of fillet, taking care not to cut all the way through.
3. Flake crab meat and check for pieces of shells.
4. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté onion and celery until tender. Add garlic; cook 2 more minutes. Add parsley and green onions and remove from heat.
5. Stir in lemon juice, cayenne pepper and bread crumbs.
6. Add crabmeat and prawns or shrimp, tossing gently.
7. Stuff fillet pockets with seafood mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, paprika and melted butter.
8. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until done.
9. Garnish with lemon slices and parsley.

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of The Catfish Institute.