Two reasons to love this family-pleasing dish: 1) it’s addictively delicious, and 2) it takes less than 15 minutes in the microwave. If you need to feed more, this recipe doubles or triples well; just increase the cooking time by 4-6 minutes.
Posole (or pozole) are large corn kernels that are a staple of Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking. They have a chewy texture and a pleasingly starchy corn flavor. White hominy is very similar and is easier to find in some parts of the country.
Serve this dish with cheddar cornbread and some pickled jalapenos for an authentic touch.
Makes 4 servings of Texas Style Smothered Catfish
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups chopped sweet onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 1 teaspoon minced roasted garlic (see Cook's Notes), or regular garlic
- 1 - 10 oz can chopped tomatoes with green chiles (such as Rotel brand)
- 1 – 15 oz can posole or white hominy, rinsed and drained
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 lb small skinless catfish fillets
- Lemon wedges (optional)
Preparation:
In a microwave-safe casserole, combine the butter, onions, and garlic. Cook on full power 1-2 minutes to melt the butter; stir and cook at 80% power for 2 additional minutes. Stir in the tomatoes with green chiles, the posole (or hominy), lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, and the salt & pepper. Push the fillets down into the sauce and spoon the sauce over the fish. Cover and cook on 80% power for 4 minutes; stir sauce around gently and cook at 80% power for an additional 4 minutes. Test fish pieces at their thickest parts with a fork -- if fish flakes, it’s done. Sprinkle with remaining parsley and serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
Cook's Notes:
- This recipe was created using a standard 1000 watt microwave. Adjust times accordingly if your microwave varies.
- You can use tilapia instead of catfish in this recipe for a milder taste.
- Minced roasted garlic can be found in small jars in most supermarkets.
- Red pepper flakes or chipotle powder are good options if you want to fire things up a bit more.