Step 1:
In a medium sized pot over medium heat, melt butter.
Step 2:
Add onion and green pepper, cook until vegetables tenderize, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, cook additional 30 seconds.
Step 3:
Add rice to pot and mix in until it is coated in fat. Add 2 cups of water, bay leaf and rinsed black-eyed peas and stir once. Turn heat to low, cover pot and cook until rice is tender, about 12-15 minutes. When rice is tender, remove from heat and leave covered.
Step 4:
While rice is cooking, set up breading for fish. In one bowl add flour, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning and 1 t kosher salt. In another bowl, mix together eggs and milk. In a third bowl add panko breadcrumbs.
Step 5:
One piece of fish at a time, coat fish pieces in seasoned flour, egg mixture and then panko. Discard all extra breading.
Step 6:
In a large wide pan, heat about ¼” deep of canola oil over medium heat. Add breaded fish pieces carefully to oil. Cook until golden brown on one-side, then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side and remove from pan. Fish should be cooked through after frying on both sides. Drain fried fish on a plate with paper towels.
#protip – If fish is browning too quickly, add a small amount of additional oil to pan to cool it down quickly.
Step 7:
Serve crispy fish with rice and beans.
