Stuffed Catfish with Cheese, Spinach & Shrimp

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Filling

1. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, spinach, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
2. Fold in the chopped shrimp or crab meat until evenly incorporated. Let sit at room temperature while prepping the fish.

2️⃣ Season and Stuff the Catfish

3. Pat catfish fillets dry and lay them on a clean surface.
4. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and season each side with salt and pepper.
5. With a sharp knife, carefully cut a slit along the side of each fillet to form a pocket (without slicing all the way through).
6. Spoon the cheese-spinach-shrimp mixture evenly into the pockets, pressing gently to secure the filling.

3️⃣ Cook the Stuffed Catfish

7. In a large skillet, heat remaining 2 tbsp olive oil with 2 tbsp butter and lemon juice over medium heat until hot and fragrant.
8. Add stuffed fillets to the skillet and cook undisturbed for about 6 minutes or until golden and lightly crisped on the bottom.
9. Carefully flip fillets and cook another 6 minutes, basting with the pan juices as they finish cooking.
10. Fish should be opaque and flake easily, and the filling warmed through.

4️⃣ Serve

• Transfer fillets to plates and drizzle with remaining lemon butter from the pan.
• Garnish with extra parmesan or fresh herbs like parsley or chives if desired.

📋 Summary