Old Fashioned Country Fried Steak Food

COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Cut steaks 3/4-inch thick. Pound the steaks with meat tenderizing hammer until about 1/4-inch thick. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and rub on other spices if you have them.
• Start heating beef tallow or grease in Dutch oven. Be sure you have enough grease in the pan to cover the steaks (at least 1-inch.) Put the buttermilk in bowl and put the flour on a plate. Wet the steaks in buttermilk and then drag through flour making sure both sides have flour on them. If a thicker crust is wanted, then repeat this procedure again. When grease just begins to smoke, then you are ready to drop in a steak and cook. Cook steak until golden brown on both sides turning steak in grease, if needed. Repeat until all steaks are cooked.

COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Place 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk, and eggs in 3 separate shallow bowls in the working area.
• Mix 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, and the paprika into the flour and mix well.
• Season both sides of cube steaks with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
• Dip cube steaks in milk, then dredge in seasoned flour.
• Dip floured steaks in egg wash, then again in the seasoned flour.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet on medium heat and do half the cube steaks at a time, or work with two skillets, if you desire.
• Brown the cube steaks on each side, about 8-10 minutes total cooking time; remove from heat and set the steaks aside.
• Drain all but 1 tbsp oil (if any- I don't usually have any, but the steaks are less greasy with less oil) from the pans.
• Add enough butter to the pan to equal 3 tbsp along with the oil.
• Melt the butter and add 3 tbsp flour and stir with a whisk to make a roux, deglazing the bottom of the pan, and cook for a few minutes on LOW heat; do not burn.
• Slowly add the remaining 2 cups milk, and stir or whisk constantly until mixture comes to a boil and thickens; cook for another minute or so and remove from heat.
• Serve Country Fried Steaks (Chicken Fried Steak, as we call it) with plenty of gravy on top, and mashed potatoes on the side (double gravy recipe if you use a LOT of gravy on your potatoes, etc).

DOWN HOME COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• The gravy takes the longest, so start the gravy by combining the chicken broth, milk, salt and pepper in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
• As it is heating (but before boiling) be very careful and remove about a 1/2 to 1 cup of the hot liquid.
• Add flour to the liquid and whisk to combine.
• Pour the hot liquid/flour mixture back into the sauce pan and whisk til smooth.
• Bring to a boil and cook for 10-15 minutes until thick. Stir frequently.
• While the gravy is going, heat oil in a deep fryer or large frying pan to 350°F Make sure to have enough oil to cover the steaks while frying.
• Sift flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and seasoning salt together into a large shallow bowl.
• Pour water into another shallow bowl.
• Dredge each steak, one at a time, first in the water, then in the flour. Repeat this one more time so that each steak has been coated twice.
• When all steaks have been coated and the oil is hot, drop the steaks, one at a time, into oil. If needed, work in batches. (I usually do.).
• Fry for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown. Place on wire rack with paper towels underneath to drain. (This keeps 'em crispy).
• Serve the steaks hot with gravy poured over.

SOUTHERN LIVING'S COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over steaks.
• Set aside.
• combinecracker crumbs, 1 cup flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and red pepper.
• whisk together 3/4 cup milk and eggs.
• Dredge steaks in cracker crumb mixture; dip in milk mixture, and dredge in cracker mixture again.
• POUR oil into a 12-inch skillet;heat to 360 degrees.
• Do not use a nonstick skillet.
• I like to use a cast iron skillet for this.
• Fry steaks 10 minutes.
• Turn and fry 4 to 5 more minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove to a wire rack on a jellyroll pan.
• Keep steaks warm in a 225 degree oven.
• Carefully drain hot oil, reserving cooked bits and 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet.
• whisk together remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 4 cups milk.
• Pour mixture into reserved drippings in skillet; cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, 10 to 12 minutes, or until thickened.
• Serve gravy with steaks and mashed potatoes.
• Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

COUNTRY FRIED STEAK AND PAN GRAVY

Steps:

• For steak: Melt butter & oil in an electric skillet set on about 350°F
• Dredge cube steak in flour seasoned with salt & pepper mixture. (I have done it dipping it in egg first & didn't think it made that much difference).
• Fry about 5 minutes on each side. (If you over cook it gets tough.) Move cooked steak to a small cookie sheet & place in a warmed oven.
• For the gravy: Pour any butter and oil out of the skillet, being careful to not pour off the browned flour that are in the pan. Loosen the bits of browned flour from the pan with your spatula.
• Turn the heat down to about 250°F and melt 4-8 Tbls of butter stirring the pan drippings into it. (The more butter you start with, the more gravy you'll have. My family likes LOTS of gravy!).
• Once the butter has browned a bit add enough flour to absorb all the butter, mixing well. (You will use approximately the same amount of flour as butter.).
• Start adding milk about 1/2 cup at a time while using a whisk to work it into the flour/butter mixture. After I have added about 2 cups of milk I start using water. Add liquid until the gravy is as thin as you like it. This takes a little time especially when you are first getting used to it. Add some liquid, mix, add liquid, mix --
• Once the gravy is the right consistency add some salt & pepper until it is to your liking (I used quite a bit of salt actually).
• Remove steak from oven & serve with mashed potatoes!
• (Hint: have the rest if the meal done before you start the steak & gravy. Once you are into making the gravy you won't be able to do anything else because you have to stir it constantly so it doesn't stick or burn).

COUNTRY-STYLE STEAK & GRAVY

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 tbsp sea salt and 1/2 tbsp white vinegar with a cup of water in a bowl or pan large enough to hold your meat. Stir until salt is dissolved. Add the cubed steak, and add additional water to cover the meat. Let this rest in the refrigerator for 2 hours. This will flavor the meat and make it tender.
• Combine 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper; stir well. Remove the meat from the marinade, draining well. Dredge the meat in the flour mixture.
• Pour oil into a heavy skillet, to a depth of 1/2 inches. Heat to 375 degrees. Add the meat and fry a few pieces at a time, 6 to 7 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Remove from the skillet and drain well on paper towels. Keep warm.
• Drain the pan drippings until you only have 2 tbsp of oil in the skillet. Place the skillet over low heat. Add 2 tbsp flour, stirring until smooth. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Serve the meat with the gravy. Enjoy.

COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt, and pepper.
• Put buttermilk in shallow bowl.
• Put crumbs in another bowl.
• Coat steaks with flour, then buttermilk, and then crumbs.
• Cook in hot oil for 5-6 minutes a side.
• Remove and keep warm.
• To skillet add soup and milk; bring to a boil, stirring.
• Serve steaks with the gravy.