An easy recipe for gluten-free, keto and low carb baked catfish. It’s so much easier than deep-frying, and the result is healthy and delicious.
Keto and gluten-free baked catfish is crispy and well-seasoned. It’s one of my family’s favorite dinners, and I like it too because it’s so easy to make.
Whenever I visit the South, I enjoy lots of fried catfish. I love the fish’s delicate, white flesh. Back home, I prefer to bake it. It’s not just healthier, it’s also much easier for me as a cook to bake the fish than to deep fry it, or even pan-fry it.
How to make baked catfish
It’s an easy recipe – much easier than frying. Coat the fillets in well-seasoned almond flour, spray with oil, then bake in a hot oven for a crispy exterior and a tender interior. Delicious! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions.
For the gluten-free coating, I use almond meal. But you can use the same amount of breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs) if you prefer. It’s best to use coarse almond meal and not fine blanched almond flour in this recipe.
Where to buy catfish
I buy my catfish fillets frozen at Whole Foods. As you can see in the video, the bag I got had two fillets – one of them thin, the other very thick. This is such a pet peeve of mine. How can they expect us to cook these very different fillets? I solved the problem by slicing the thick fillet into two thinner ones.
What to serve with baked catfish
Since I bake the fish in a 450°F oven, I like to serve it with side dishes that I can cook in the same oven. So I often serve it with roasted okra, roasted green beans, or roasted broccoli.
Is catfish healthy?
It’s not as healthy as salmon or herring, which are higher in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Catfish is fairly high in unhealthy omega-6 fatty acids. Having said that, this baked catfish still contains omega-3 fatty acids. It’s tasty and affordable. I agree with the authors here, who conclude that the best strategy is to eat fish at least twice a week and to eat a variety of fish.
More tasty fish recipes
If you like well-seasoned fish dishes, try this wonderful blackened halibut. It’s super flavorful! And this baked cod recipe is one of my best – and easiest – fish recipes.
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Baked Catfish
INGREDIENTS
- Avocado oil spray
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 (6 oz) catfish fillets
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Prepare a roasting pan by lining the bottom with foil and spraying the roasting rack with oil.
- Mix together the almond meal and the spices in a shallow dish (such as a square 8-inch baking dish).
- In another shallow dish, melt the butter.
- Dip each catfish fillet in the melted butter, then dredge in the almond meal mixture, pressing to make sure the coating adheres.
- Place the coated fish fillets on the prepared roasting rack.
- Spray the fillets with oil. Bake 15 minutes, until crisp and golden on the outside and tender and opaque inside. Serve immediately.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
NOTES
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., has been following a healthy real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She has taken 
