Taste of Orleans Blackened Catfish Slider Recipe

Taste of Orleans, our celebration of Cajun and Orleans food, music and culture, is just about to wrap up—so make sure to make it out to the park this weekend for your last chance to try everything the festival has to offer! With two stages of live Orleans music, more than a half-dozen authentic foods (including gumbo, etouffee, beignets and frog legs!) and fun family activities, like mask decorating and an exciting fireworks show set to music, it really transforms the Orleans Place section of Great America. Make sure to stick around until after dark to see the amazing lighting package our talented entertainment team put together just for the festival!

Taste of Orleans runs Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30, from noon to 10 p.m.

Want to take some of Taste of Orleans home with you? If you’re an at-home chef, here’s the recipe for one of the tastiest dishes at the festival: the blackened catfish slider! Make sure to let us know how it turns out in the comments below!

See you in the park…

Blackened Catfish Slider with Tangy Slaw Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 catfish filets (approximately 1.5 oz each)
• 8 slider buns
• Bag of slaw
• 2 tablespoons butter

Blackening Spice

• ½ cup onion powder
• ½ cup garlic powder               
• 2 tablespoons salt
• ¼ cup paprika           
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon black pepper

Pickling Liquid

• 2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 black peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves

Creole Mustard Aioli

• 1 cup heavy mayo
• 1 cup creole mustard
• ¼ cup honey
• Pinch salt
• Pinch white pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients for blackening spice and set aside (or buy premade blackening spice packet from store!)
2. Bring all pickling liquid ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan
3. Remove pickling liquid from heat and allow to cool
4. Strain pickling liquid
5. Mix bagged slaw and pickling liquid in a medium bowl and set aside
6. Mix all creole mustard aioli ingredients and set aside
7. Heavily season catfish with blackening spice until completely coated
8. Melt butter in a medium frying pan on medium-high heat
9. Fry catfish for 5-10 minutes until blackened
10. Spread creole aioli mustard on slider bun
11. Remove slaw from pickling liquid
12. Place catfish on bun and top with slaw
13. Enjoy!