Cajun Blackened Catfish with Coleslaw

Blackened fish is all about a bold spice crust, high heat and a tender, just-cooked centre. In this Cajun-style version, catfish or another skinless white fish is coated with smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic and oregano, then pan-seared in foaming butter until darkened in patches rather than burnt. The cool coleslaw keeps the plate fresh: shredded cabbage and carrot dressed with mayonnaise and lemon give crunch, acidity and creaminess against the smoky heat. It is quick enough for a weeknight dinner but has the punchy, satisfying feel of a proper fish supper.
Cuisine style Cajun-inspired American cooking
Spice level Medium
Cooking style Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 30 minutes

Why this recipe works

  • Bold spice crust: Smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic and oregano create a savoury, smoky coating that blackens quickly in the pan.
  • Hot fish, cool slaw: The tender, buttery fish is balanced by crisp cabbage, carrot and lemony mayonnaise.
  • Weeknight speed: Thin white fish fillets cook in minutes, so the full meal comes together without a long prep or simmering time.

Get the most out of this recipe

Adjust the heat

  • Make it milder: Replace some or all of the cayenne with extra smoked paprika for a gentler spice blend.
  • Increase the heat: Use a little more cayenne in the spice mix, keeping the lemony slaw bright enough to balance the extra warmth.

Common mistakes

  • Watch the pan heat: The pan should be hot enough to darken the spices, but if the butter smokes aggressively, lower the heat slightly to avoid a bitter crust.
  • Do not overcook the fish: Catfish and other white fish fillets cook quickly; remove them once they are opaque and flake easily.
  • Dry the fish well: Moisture on the surface prevents the spice mix from forming a good blackened crust.

Make-ahead tips

  • Prep the slaw vegetables ahead: Shred the cabbage and grate the carrot in advance, then dress them closer to serving for the best crunch.
  • Store separately: Keep leftover fish and coleslaw in separate airtight containers so the slaw stays cold and the fish reheats more cleanly.
  • Best eaten straight away: The strongest contrast comes from hot, freshly cooked fish with cold, crisp coleslaw.

Serving ideas

  • Add a simple side: Serve with corn on the cob, potato wedges or plain rice if you want to make the plate more filling.
  • Finish with lemon: A squeeze of lemon over the hot fish brightens the smoky spice crust and cuts through the butter.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Finely shred the white cabbage into a mixing bowl. Coarsely grate the carrot into the bowl. Add the mayonnaise and squeeze in the juice from half the lemon, then toss until evenly coated.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, ground garlic, dried oregano and half the fine sea salt. Pat the fish dry, then coat both sides evenly with the spice mix. Cut the remaining lemon half into wedges for serving.
  3. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the butter. When it foams, lay in the fish and cook for 2 to 4 minutes per side, until blackened in patches and just cooked through. If the butter starts to smoke aggressively, lower the heat slightly.
  4. Taste the coleslaw and season with the remaining fine sea salt and a little more lemon juice if you like it sharper. Serve the fish hot alongside the crunchy slaw, with lemon wedges for squeezing over. Eat straight away for the best contrast of hot fish and cold slaw.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • For the best blackened crust, make sure the fish is well dried before adding the spice mix and do not move it in the pan until it releases easily.
  • If cooking for anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, ensure the fish is cooked until opaque and flakes easily all the way through.

Substitutions

  • Replace Mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangier coleslaw.
  • Replace Cayenne pepper with Smoked paprika for a milder heat level.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Store the fish and coleslaw separately in airtight containers. Reheat the fish in a hot frying pan for 1 to 2 minutes per side until piping hot; the coleslaw is best served cold and may soften slightly as it sits.

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Cajun Blackened Catfish with Coleslaw
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 2 servings
  • Total time: 25min (25min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: American
  • Allergens:
    Eggs Fish Milk Mustard
Beginner friendly Kid friendly

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