Catching crappie is half the fun; preparing it into a delicious meal completes the adventure. Finding the best way to cook crappie will add to the thrill of eating what you catch. And, you cut on your grocery bill, especially during crappie season.
There are a few ways to prepare crappie that you can adopt. Here are some of the easy methods.
Pan-Fried Crappie
Pan-frying is the easiest way to prepare any fish, not just crappie. This method comes in handy to cook fillets from crappie, leaving a crispy top of the fish and a tender texture inside. Frying crappie adds a bit of flavor without overpowering the taste of fish.
If you want to improve the flavor of crappie, use the breading method. Beat an egg and add a little water, and set that aside. In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, paprika, and pepper. Dip the fillet in the egg mix, then dredge in the flour and place the fish on a pan. Fry on both sides until golden and crisp.
Deep-Fried Crappie
This method of cooking crappie delivers a crispy fillet, perfect to serve over a bed of vegetables or sauces. The easiest way to infuse flavor is by frying batter such as cornmeal fish batter. Coat the fish in the batter and gently place the fish into the fryer. Leave it to fry in hot oil until golden brown.
Baked Crappie
This method comes in handy if you want to save yourself from the extra calories from oil. Baking is a healthy alternative to frying, and it preserves the flavor and texture of fish. Also, baking is quick and easy, requiring just a few ingredients. And, you can tweak the recipes to improve flavors and textures.
You can bake crappie by using butter, a few fillets, salt and pepper, and a little lemon juice. Lay the fillets in a baking dish, and using a pastry brush, apply some butter to each fillet. Sprinkle a bit of lemon juice on the fillets and spice with salt and pepper.
Bake for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or until the fish starts to flake. Serve the fish with a slice of lemon, some vegetables, or any other side of your choice.
Grilled Crappie
Another healthy alternative to frying is grilling crappie. Grilling crappie is simple and does not take a lot of time to prep and cook. The process is similar to baking but replaces the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Spice the crappie fillets with seasonings of your choice and apply a little butter on both sides. Wrap with foil and place on a grill to cook, just as you would with baking crappie. Grill for about 5 to 10 minutes or until the fillets flake.
These methods are quick and easy, ideal for preparing crappie right after catching some. The processes do not require a lot of ingredients, and you most certainly have the essentials to cook crappie in your kitchen. Regardless of how you enjoy fish, frying, deep-frying, baking and grilling are all ideal ways of cooking crappie.
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