Cooking grilled catfish with coffee butter

It's always fun to find an unexpected combination of seasonings or ingredients that give a standard item a new twist.

Here, in this easily prepared main dish of grilled or broiled catfish, the surprise is coffee. The coffee flavor, along with other staple ingredients including lemon juice and onion powder, balances the sweet, mild flavor of the catfish, which absorbs subtle marinades as successfully as assertive ones.

Grilled Catfish With Coffee Butter

(Preparation and cooking time about 25 minutes)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

1/4 cup melted butter or margarine

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 pounds catfish fillets

Combine lemon juice, instant coffee, butter, onion powder and salt. Brush mixture thickly onto fillets. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the outdoor grill for 10 minutes. Turn and brush fish again with sauce. Broil 10 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily. Brush the catfish again with the coffee butter and serve.

If you prefer to broil in the oven, have the rack about 6 inches from the broiler and cook for about 4 minutes per side.

Makes 6 servings.