The 10+ Best Side Dishes For What To Serve With Catfish
There are plenty of great catfish side dishes that can complement this meal’s plethora of flavors.
Catfish, when fried, has a mix of salty and sweet tastes that has cemented this dish as a Southern classic.
There are tons of great side dishes that you can choose from to go with your catfish. Some of them are prepared fried as well, while others are not.
Whatever fits your preference, all of these delicious side dishes will make for one of the best meals you can come across.
Catfish Side Dishes: From Hush Puppies To Fried Okra
1. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a dish made of shredded cabbage and lettuce that has been tossed in a dressing.
This dressing is usually comprised of mayonnaise, vinegar, and spices such as salt and pepper.
This dressing usually gives this dish a little bit of a sweet and sour taste.
If you want it to be closer to one of these two taste sensations, you could try adding lemon juice for more sourness or honey for more sweetness.
Additionally, if you aren’t feeling the creamy texture of coleslaw, you can add other crunchy plants alongside your greens.
Try adding carrots for a satisfying crunch or walnuts for a nutty flavor.
This neat flavor combination can make for a great side dish for your Southern fried catfish recipe. With all of the variations you can make, the best coleslaw for you is out there.
2. Hush Puppies
Fry up some balls of cornmeal batter to get crispy hush puppies.
There isn’t much to them beyond that, but you can add some flavor to yours by adding in some onions or cheese if you feel like it.
Hush puppies are a side dish that’s been served with fried fish time and time again. They have a nice mixture of savory and sweet that make them a popular side dish for fried catfish.
3. French Fries
French fries are a well known side dish that has been paired without nearly every meal you can think of. So of course they are a popular pick to serve alongside fish.
French fries are the most common type of fry used, but there are other great options if you want a different texture.
Steak fries are much thicker while waffle fries are larger and make for a better scoop for your condiments.
If you want something different from the standard spud, you can choose sweet potato fries for an extra hint of sweetness with your fries.
All of these types of fries pair well with catfish and can make for a great meal.
4. Green Beans
Green beans are a long, slender type of bean with a slightly bitter taste. They can act as a great source of potassium and can be served with your catfish meal.
You can serve them a little more raw for a crisper veggie, or you can boil them to make them softer and chewier. You can roast them with some oil and salt to make them taste stronger.
If you aren’t a fan of plain green beans, you can add a butter sauce and some nuts or bacon to make a new mixture of flavors and textures.
Mixed with cream of mushroom soup and french onion, you can make a fantastic casserole.
No matter how you like your green beans, they can make for a delicious side dish that goes well with your catfish.
5. Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes are slices of green tomatoes that have been battered and fried to get a crunchy exterior.
They have a slightly bitter taste that is a bit weaker than tomato slices that have not been fried.
This tart taste makes fried green tomatoes a great side for fried catfish. The flaky catfish’s sweet taste and the tomatoes’ acidic taste makes for a nice flavor combination.
6. Collard Greens
Collards are a leafy type of veggie similar to lettuce and spinach. They can make for a healthy side dish since they are rich in vitamins and potassium.
In southern cuisine, collard greens are often prepared by boiling the leaves with some olive oil and ham. This makes the collards a more flavorful side dish with a slightly savory flavor.
7. Cucumber Salad
This easy side dish needs little more than sliced cucumber and a little vinegar, sugar, and salt. This refreshing side dish has a wide range of flavors that all come out with every bite.
Cucumbers are high in important nutrients such as vitamin K and vitamin B. This creamy side dish makes for a nice, flavorful pair for your catfish dinner.
8. Baked Beans
As the name suggests, baked beans are baked in a sauce typically made of tomato sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
You can use navy beans for this side dish recipe, but you could try a different type if you are curious.
Baked beans typically have a rich, smokey flavor that has cemented them as a classic southern side to serve with a wide range of foods, including fried catfish filets.
Try adding some extra seasoning like garlic powder or paprika to really bring out the flavor of your beans.
9. Southern Potato Salad
This southern staple is a tasty side dish to serve with fried catfish. It typically is made with some mayo, mustard, and chopped dill pickles.
This classic side dish sometimes includes chopped hard boiled eggs to add to the flavor and texture of the dish.
Southern potato salad’s sweet flavor is a great compliment to a main dish and it can help to bring out the richness of the fish through the differing tastes and textures.
10. Corn Bread
Corn bread is a southern side dish that goes well with fried meals. The sweet, nutty tasting bread has a flavor that goes well with an oily meal, such as a flaky catfish.
This southern comfort food has a nice flavor, as well as a cake-like texture that makes for a good side with fried catfish.
It would be a great idea to pair these two the next time you are looking for a good meal.
11. Fried Okra
Fried okra is another southern classic side dish that goes well as a side with fried catfish. Before it is fried, okra has a crispy texture that will give a satisfying crunch for each bite.
Fried okra is more tender and chewier, while gaining a slightly salty flavor from the frying process. This can compliment the catfish beautifully as together they make for a nice mix of sweet and salty.
12. Yellow Squash
When prepared right, yellow squash will have a buttery and nutty flavor. We recommend you try roasting it so it can act as the perfect side dish for your catfish.
Yellow squash is chock full of all sorts of vitamins and minerals that can help your body, such as vitamin A, magnesium, and fiber.
This healthy, yet tasty veggie is the perfect side dish for fried food as it can give some more nutritional value to your meal.
13. Red Beans And Rice
This versatile side is another classic southern dish known for its large amount of flavor.
The cook prepares the beans along with a wide array of spices such as paprika, cayenne, thyme, and bay leaves, resulting in a flavorful dish.
You also don’t have to serve just red beans and rice. You can add chopped sausage if you like a meatier taste, or chopped veggies like bell peppers and celery.
There are plenty of ways to prepare red beans and rice, and that makes them a favorite side for a delicious meal like catfish.
The Best Side Dishes To Serve With Catfish For You
If you are ever wondering what to serve with catfish, then it’s important to consider how many options there are out there for you.
If you want something salty, then fries may be a good pick for you, but if you are looking for something sweet, then coleslaw is the way to go.
There are countless options that go well with catfish, and it may seem overwhelming to choose just one.
We recommend that if you are bogged down with choices and can’t settle on just one, then try the side that you haven’t paired with catfish yet.
All of these dishes are good with catfish, and learning what you like the most takes a little experimentation.
Get out of your comfort zone and try something new the next time you have catfish.
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