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Southern-Style Fried Shellcrackers Recipe

Redear sunfish are delicious any way you prepare them, but this simple, traditional recipe is hard to beat.

Southern-Style Fried Shellcrackers Recipe

Photo by Keith Sutton

By Keith Sutton
Print Recipe

Southern-Style Fried Shellcrackers

Serves: 4-5
Prep time: 15 minutes+ 1-2 hours marinating time
Cook time: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds pan-dressed shellcrackers (scales, heads and entrails removed)
  • 3 ounces Louisiana hot sauce
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Peanut oil for frying

Directions:

  1. Marinate the fish for 1 to 2 hours in a mixture of hot sauce and milk. Remove fish and drain.
  2. Combine the dry ingredients in a large plastic bag. Add one or two fish at a time and shake to coat.
  3. Cook the fish in 2 inches of peanut oil in a deep fryer heated to 365 degrees. Fry until the thickest part of the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  4. Remove and drain on paper towels.
  5. Repeat with remaining fish.

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