Southern Livings Country Fried Steak Food

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.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK AND GRAVY

Steps:

• If needed, cut steaks into serving size pieces.
• Combine flour, salt, pepper, and garlic salt in a pie plate or shallow bowl, Combine eggs and milk in another shallow bowl.
• Dredge steaks in flour mixture, dip in egg mixture, and then dredge back in flour mixture.
• Lightly pound steaks.
• Heat about 1 inch of oil in a frying pan to medium heat (375 degrees).
• Fry steaks in hot oil until browned, turning once.
• Reserve 1/4 cup of pan drippings for gravy.
• For Gravy: In heated pan drippings, stir in 1/4 cup flour.
• Cook over medium heat until bubbly, stirring constantly.
• Gradually add milk and cook until thickened and bubbly, stirring constantly.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Serve steaks with a ladle of gravy.

COUNTRY FRIED CHICKEN STEAK WITH CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Pound the meat with a spiked meat mallet to tenderize.
• Cut each slice crosswise into 3 pieces.
• Place in a large bowl.
• Cover with water and add the salt and vinegar.
• Marinate for 2 hours.
• Combine the flour and pepper in a plastic bag and add the meat, (do not pat dry) 1 piece at a time, shaking to coat thoroughly.
• Heat the oil in the deep fryer or deep large skillet, over medium heat, to 350 degrees.
• Add the meat in batches (do not crowd) and fry until light brown, about 30 seconds per side.
• Drain the meat on paper towels and place it on a heated platter that has been tented with foil.
• For the gravy, pour off all but 2 Tbls of the oil in the skillet, leaving the browned bits.
• Heat over medium heat and add the flour, stirring and scraping up all of the browned bits for 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the milk.
• Stir in the salt and continue to whisk until thickened, about 1 minute.
• Serve over the steaks and garnish with parsley just before serving.

SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE'S CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• SPRINKLE salt and pepper evenly over steaks. Set aside.
• COMBINE cracker 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.) 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

Steps:

• Mix together egg and milk in a medium sized shallow bowl; set aside.
• Preheat oil in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.
• While oil is heating, place flour on a sheet of aluminum foil or a flat plate.
• Take a piece of steak covering each side with flour.
• Press flour into meat with palm of your hand.
• Place flour covered meat one piece at a time in egg, making sure meat is covered with egg mixture.
• Repeat step 5.
• Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 with remaining steak.
• Place each piece of meat in skillet, sprinkle each piece with 1/4 teaspoon of each seasoning salt and pepper (can add more seasoning salt and pepper if desired).
• Lightly brown each side of steak for 5 to 6 minutes or until desired brownness is reached.
• Serve with your favorite gravy and your favorite sides.

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).