Instructions: Sound like a bit much? This marks a change in the eating habits of whites in the South. When they began eating catfish it had to be dressed up a bit, since educated whites were not to be seen eating lower-class food. Well, this is educated catfish and anyone could be seen eating this. It is popular in New Orleans . . . with all kinds of people.

Salt and pepper the fillets along with a dash of cayenne. Place in a covered stove-top dish or saute pan. Mix together the butter, shallots, tomato sauce, 1 cup of the cream, lemon juice, and the white wine. Pour over the fish and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until the fish barely flakes. Gently remove the fish to a warm platter. Add the remaining cream and the parsley to the sauce and bring it to a boil. Reduce the sauce until it thickens and pour it over the fish.

Try this over a nice dish, such as Rice with Burned Almonds (see recipe).

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.