Alton Brown Cube Steak Food

CUBE STEAK SALISBURY STYLE - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Place oven rack in lower middle position and preheat to 250°F Meanwhile, stir together flour, salt, and black pepper on a large plate. Dredge both sides of each cube steak in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• Add one tablespoon each of oil and butter to Dutch oven and place over medium high heat. When oil is shimmering, add two cube steaks. Cook until golden brown, about four minutes on each side. Remove cube steaks to a plate and set aside. Repeat with remaining two cube steaks, adding more oil and butter if necessary.
• Carefully pour out any fat left in Dutch oven, then add remaining butter and oil. Turn heat to medium-high, and when oil shimmers, add onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is caramelized, about three minutes. Add wine. Using wooden spatula, scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan.
• Add Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and stock. Stir well, then add cube steaks, nestling them into sauce as much as possible. Cover dutch oven and place on lower-middle rack of oven. Cook until very tender, about 25 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes.

COUNTRY STYLE STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Dredge the pieces of meat on both sides in the flour. Tenderize the meat, using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Dredge in the flour again and set aside.
• Add enough of the vegetable oil or bacon fat to just cover the bottom of a 4 to 5-quart Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the steaks to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a plate and repeat until all of the steaks have been browned.
• Remove the last steaks from the pot and add the chicken broth and thyme and whisk until the liquid just comes to a boil. Return the steaks to the pot and make sure they are all submerged in the liquid. Cover the pot and place it in the oven on the middle rack. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender and falling apart.

SWISS STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices and season on both sides with the salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Dredge the pieces of meat on both sides in the flour mixture. Tenderize the meat using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Dredge the slices on both sides once more and set aside.
• Add enough of the bacon drippings or vegetable oil to just cover the bottom of a 4 to 5-quart Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the steaks to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a plate and repeat until all of the steaks have been browned.
• Remove the last steaks from the pot and add the onions, garlic, and celery. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Next add the tomatoes, paprika, oregano, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth and stir to combine. Return the meat to the pot, submerging it in the liquid. Cover the pot and place it in the oven on the middle rack. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender and falling apart.

PAN SEARED STEAK (FROM ALTON BROWN)

Steps:

• Remove steak(s) from fridge and start bringing them to room temperature.
• After 30 to 45 minutes, place a 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet in oven and heat oven to 500 degrees F.
• When oven reaches temperature, remove the pan and place it on a burner over high heat.
• Coat steak(s) lightly with oil and season both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper to taste.
• Immediately place steak(s) in the middle of the hot, dry pan. Cook 30 to 60 seconds without moving. Turn the steak(s) with tongs and cook another 30 to 60 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Flip steak(s) and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. (The time in the oven depends on how rare you like your steaks. The time given is for medium, but depends on number of steaks, etc. as well.)
• Remove the steak(s) from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 2 minutes.
• Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.

CORNED BEEF BY ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Place the water into a large 6 to 8 quart stockpot along with salt, sugar, saltpeter, cinnamon stick, mustard seeds, peppercorns, cloves, allspice, juniper berries, bay leaves and ginger.
• Cook over high heat until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
• Remove from the heat and add the ice.
• Stir until the ice has melted.
• If necessary, place the brine into the refrigerator until it reaches a temperature of 45 degrees (I put mine in the refrigerator over night).
• Once it has cooled, place the brisket in a 2-gallon zip top bag and add the brine.
• Seal and lay flat inside a container, cover and place in the refrigerator for 10 days.
• Check daily to make sure the beef is completely submerged and stir the brine.
• After 10 days, remove from the brine and rinse well under cool water.
• Place the brisket into a pot just large enough to hold the meat, add the onion, carrot and celery and cover with water by 1-inch.
• Set over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover and gently simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the meat is fork tender.
• Remove from the pot and thinly slice across the grain.
• My Crock pot method:.
• After 10 days, remove from the brine and rinse well under cool water.
• Place the brisket into bottom of crock pot.
• Add 5 potatoes cut in half and 1 pound baby carrots.
• Turn on high and cook for 2 hours.
• Add whole head of cabbage that you have quartered.
• Make sure you keep cabbage from touching the crock pot so it will not burn.
• Cook another 2 hours on high.
• Slice and serve with the vegetables.