Chicken Fried Steak With Cracked Pepper Gravy Food

CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Pound steaks between 2 sheets of plastic to 1/4" thick; season with salt and pepper.
• Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups cornstarch, 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large baking dish. Place buttermilk in another large baking dish. Working one at time, lightly dredge 4 steaks in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip in buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge again in flour mixture, packing onto steaks and pressing firmly into crevices; shake off excess. Place on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Discard wet flour mixture and repeat process with remaining steaks, flour, cornstarch, paprika, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, placing on another rack set inside another baking sheet. Chill, uncovered, 2-6 hours.
• Let steaks stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Pour oil into skillet to come halfway up sides; fit with thermometer. Heat over high until thermometer registers 325°F. Fry steaks in 4 batches until deep golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK WITH PEPPERED CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Pat the steaks dry and season with salt and pepper.
• Sift the flour and cayenne pepper onto a plate and dredge the steaks in the flour.
• Using the flat side of a meat cleaver or a rolling pin, pound out the steaks until they are about 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick.
• Dredge again in the flour, shaking off any excess.
• Dip the steaks into the beaten eggs, and then again in flour, making sure all of the beef is well covered with flour.
• Pour enough oil into a large skillet to come about 1/4 inch up the sides and set over medium-high heat.
• When the oil is hot, carefully add the steaks with tongs and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
• Remove the steaks and keep warm.
• For the gravy:.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the oil and remove any burnt drippings from the skillet.
• Reduce the heat to medium, and add the flour, salt and pepper.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the flour is light golden.
• Slowly whisk in the milk, about 1/2 cup at a time.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the gravy is thick and creamy, stirring constantly, about 7-8 minutes.
• Season again with salt and pepper, if necessary.
• Serve the gravy over the chicken-fried steaks.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK WITH CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• To make Chicken Fried Steak: Heat a deep, heavy skillet with at least 1/2-inch of oil to 340 degrees F. Alternatively, heat oil in a deep fryer to 340 degrees F.
• Cut steak into 1/2-inch thick slices to make 6 (6-ounce) portions and remove any fat or gristle. Pound it with the coarse side of a tenderizing mallet until it is double in size and half as thick. In a shallow bowl, make an egg wash by combining the eggs and milk. In another shallow bowl or pan, make a seasoned breading by combining the flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge the steak in the seasoned flour, dip it in the egg wash, and then return it to the flour and push the flour into the steak with your fingers so that there are no moist spots. Immediately slide the steak into the hot oil, in batches as necessary to prevent overcrowding, and fry on 1 side until golden and crispy; then turn over and cook the rest of the way. The steaks are done when you lift them with a pair of tongs and they are stiff, not floppy. Keep warm while making the gravy.
• To make Cream Gravy: Mix the canola oil and flour in a saucepan and cook this roux over medium heat until it looks grainy and becomes slightly golden in color, just a couple of minutes. Remove from heat. Add pepper and salt and mix well. Add milk, return the pan to the heat, and increase heat to high. Whisk until mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Add hot water to thin, if gravy is too thick. Remove from heat to prevent scorching. The gravy should be as thick as pancake batter. Pour over chicken fried steak and serve.

CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK WITH CRACKED PEPPER GRAVY

Steps:

• Prepare the flour spice by blending the flour, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Set aside on a plate or wax paper.
• Prepare the batter by mixing the eggs with a whisk, in a large bowl.
• Add the cream, and beer. Whisk to blend.
• Set aside. In a deep, heavy skillet, heat the oil to 350 degrees. While the oil is heating, prepare the round steaks by dredging them in the flour spice, taking care to evenly coat the meat. Shake off any excess.
• Dip the meat into the batter, and then again in the flour spice, evenly coating the batter so it is dry on the outside. When the oil temperature reaches 350 degrees (when a drop of batter sizzles when dropped in it), gently slide one steak into the hot oil. Cook the steak about 5 minutes.
• Turn in, taking care not to break the coating, and cook the meat 5 more minutes, or until the batter is nicely browned. Drain the cooked steak on paper towels. Repeat with the other steaks.
• Hold the cooked steaks in a 225 degree oven until all four are done. Pour Cracker-Pepper Gravy over the steaks and serve. Yield: 4 servings.
• CREAM GRAVY Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan.
• When the foam goes down, whisk in the flour. Continually whisk until the flour cooks, becoming a fragrant light brown.
• Slowly add the milk, continuing to whisk to keep lumps from forming.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Simmer gravy for 10 minutes to cook and reduce. Serve hot.

THE ULTIMATE TEXAS CHICKEN FRIED STEAK RECIPE

Steps:

• Begin with the round steak. Place the round steak inside the butcher paper it comes in, or use parchment or wax paper to cover the individual steaks on both sides while pounding flat. Pound out your steaks with a tenderizing mallet to thin 1/4-inch slices. They will get bigger and wider as you go. I alternate between the spiky side and the flat side of the mallet as I go.
• Combine the flour, seasoning salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and cornstarch in a bowl and whisk it well, then place it on a large platter.
• In a glass dish (big enough to dunk a whole steak) combine the three eggs and milk and whisk into a thin mixture to make an egg wash.
• Dip each steak into flour, shake it off, then into egg wash, shake it off, then back into the flour. Place each steak on a nice big cookie sheet. Repeat with all the steaks, then transfer into the refrigerator for a half-hour. Do not skip this step. This is giving the flour mixture time to bind and develop. Meanwhile, you can clean up, remembering to reserve 4 tablespoons of seasoned flour for the gravy.
• To cook the steaks, fill a cast-iron skillet about halfway with canola oil. Heat the oil to 350°F on medium-high heat. (You can test the oil with the back of a wooden spoon. When it bubbles around the spoon, it's hot enough. This happens at about 350°F.)
• Using tongs, place a steak in the oil. It should immediately start to bubble and cook, but not explode with activity. If it does, you will want to turn the heat down a nudge. Depending on the size of your skillet, you can cook two or more at the same time. Especially if you preheated that cast-iron skillet. You may have to monitor the heat when adding new steaks. I think a good secret is to let the majority of the first steak get nice and well fried on one side before trying to add in another one.
• Watch the edges of the steak for a golden-brown color. The edges will tell you what it looks like underneath! When you feel like the sides look golden brown, flip the steak and repeat frying on the other side, 4-5 minutes depending on the pan used.
• As each steak is done, remove it from the pan and immediately salt it on each side. Hold on a cookie sheet in a preheated oven at about 225°F. This will keep them hot while you cook the other steaks, but they are best served quickly for maximum crispiness.
• When all of the steaks are resting and toasting in the oven, pour all the grease out of the skillet except about 3-4 tablespoons and turn the heat down to low. Sprinkle in the reserved flour and whisk until a brown paste begins to form.
• Slowly whisk in one can of milk and whisk until it is thoroughly combined. Turn the heat up to medium and whisk as the gravy begins to take form and thicken, which happens when the mixture starts to simmer. Little bubbles will begin to form. Keep the heat around medium.
• I usually add another 1/2 can of milk as I decide how thin/thick I want my gravy . . . that's just a preference thing. Feel free to do what you like. Add the lemon juice, onion and garlic powder, and salt. We crack freshly ground pepper in just before serving and sprinkle on fresh thyme from our herb garden.
• Top the chicken-fried steaks with gravy and serve with your favorite sides.

CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK WITH CRACKED-PEPPER GRAVY

Steps:

• Prepare the flour spice by blending the flour, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Set aside on a plate or waxed paper.
• Prepare the batter by mixing the eggs with a whisk, in a large bowl. Add the cream and beer. Whisk to blend. Set aside.
• In a deep, heavy skillet, heat the oil to 350 degrees.
• While the oil is heating, prepare the round steaks by dredging them in the flour spice, taking care to evenly coat the meat. Shake off any excess. Dip the meat into the batter, and then again in the flour spice, evenly coating the batter so it is dry on the outside.
• When the oil temperature reaches 350 degrees (when a drop of batter sizzles when dropped in it), gently slide one steak into the hot oil. Cook the steak about 5 minutes. Turn in the oil, taking care not to break the coating, and cook the meat 5 more minutes, or until the batter is nicely browned. Drain the cooked steak on paper towels. Repeat with the other steaks. Hold the cooked steaks in a 225-degree oven until all 4 are done.
• Pour Cracked Pepper Gravy over the steaks and serve.
• Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan. When the foam subsides, whisk in the flour. Continually whisk until the flour cooks, becoming a fragrant light brown. Slowly add the milk, continuing to whisk to keep lumps from forming. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer gravy for 10 minutes to cook and reduce. Serve hot.