Country Fried Chesapeake Catfish With Jalapeño-Mint Aioli Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 4 jalapeños, seeded and roughly chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 cups mayonnaise (Duke’s, if available)
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped mint leaves
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups fine cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 4 blue catfish fillets, skinless (about 6 to 8 ounces each)
• 2 cups vegetable oil
• 2 lemons, cut in half