Yields Makes 4 servings

"I come from the South. We ate a lot of catfish, hush puppies, coleslaw, and Tabasco sauce," says the author of Exotic Herbs, Carole Saville, who now resides in Northern California. "The fish wasn't farmed; it was from local waters. Today catfish tastes like the meal they feed it. I like orange roughy, cod, salmon, and halibut these days."

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Place a 10- by 15-inch nonstick pan in a 500° oven until pan is hot, about 5 minutes.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, on a plate mix cornmeal, paprika, pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Step 3
3

In a shallow bowl, beat egg white and milk to blend.

Step 4
4

Rinse fish fillets, pat dry, and cut into serving-size pieces.

Step 5
5

Coat fish with egg white mixture, then cornmeal mixture. Set aside in a single layer.

Step 6
6

When pan is hot, mist lightly with cooking oil spray. Quickly arrange fish pieces well apart in pan. Bake until fish is browned on bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn over and continue baking until fish is golden on top and opaque but still moist-looking in thickest part (cut to test), 2 to 3 minutes longer.

Step 7
7

Meanwhile, mix mayonnaise, pickle relish, onion, and vinegar to make tartar sauce.

Step 8
8

With a wide spatula, transfer fish to plates; add salt to taste. Serve with tartar sauce and hot sauce.

Ingredients

 1/2 cup cornmeal
 1/4 teaspoon paprika
 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  About 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1 large egg white
 1 tablespoon nonfat milk or water
 1 pound skinned, boned fish fillets (such as catfish, orange roughy, or rockfish), about 1/2 inch thick
  Cooking oil spray
 1/4 cup nonfat mayonnaise
 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
 1 tablespoon chopped onion
 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  Hot sauce

Directions

Step 1
1

Place a 10- by 15-inch nonstick pan in a 500° oven until pan is hot, about 5 minutes.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, on a plate mix cornmeal, paprika, pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Step 3
3

In a shallow bowl, beat egg white and milk to blend.

Step 4
4

Rinse fish fillets, pat dry, and cut into serving-size pieces.

Step 5
5

Coat fish with egg white mixture, then cornmeal mixture. Set aside in a single layer.

Step 6
6

When pan is hot, mist lightly with cooking oil spray. Quickly arrange fish pieces well apart in pan. Bake until fish is browned on bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn over and continue baking until fish is golden on top and opaque but still moist-looking in thickest part (cut to test), 2 to 3 minutes longer.

Step 7
7

Meanwhile, mix mayonnaise, pickle relish, onion, and vinegar to make tartar sauce.

Step 8
8

With a wide spatula, transfer fish to plates; add salt to taste. Serve with tartar sauce and hot sauce.

Cornmeal-crusted Fish with Tartar Sauce

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