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DOUG COLEY'S CATFISH STEW - PEE DEE RIVER STYLE

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. fat back (sliced)                                     1 stick real butter
10 to 12 lbs. cat fish filets                               3 pounds onions, coarsely sliced
   or 15 pounds whole catfish                         8 teaspoons salt - to taste*
2 pods red pepper or 1 tbsp. crushed          1 tablespoon black pepper - to taste
2 quarts tomato juice                                      3 (12 oz.) cans evaporated milk
4 (12 oz.) cans whole yellow kernel corn     


Fry fat back for grease in a 20 quart heavy duty stock pot.  Remove fat back when golden brown and all the grease/oil is cooked from the fat back.  Brown fish (lightly) on both sides in fat back grease, a few at a time and remove the catfish from pot.  When all catfish are browned, fill stock pot half full with water leaving the fat back grease in pot adding catfish and bring to a rolling boil.  Continue boiling until meat easily falls off bone (about 45 minutes) or filets fall apart.  Remove whole catfish from the pot and carefully de-bone adding catfish meat back to the pot.  Add salt, black pepper and red pepper and continue boiling until fish is flakey.  Add 1/2 of the onions, tomato juice and corn and boil until onions don't float or become translucent.  Then let cool down adding the rest of the onions, can milk, butter and simmer an additional 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  Stir frequently to prevent sticking and adjust salt and black pepper as needed.

* Normally salt is one teaspoon per pound of meat!

YIELD:  3 gallons

Serve with saltine crackers and/or oyster crackers and your favorite beverage.