Chicken Fried Steak
chicken-fried-steak
Ingredients: Beef cube steak (170 g), All-purpose flour (1/2 cup), Cornstarch (1 tbsp), Baking powder (1/4 tsp), Kosher salt (1/2 tsp), Black pepper (1/2 tsp), Paprika (1/2 tsp), Cayenne (optional) (1/8 tsp), Egg (1), Buttermilk (1/3 cup), Neutral oil (frying) (enough for 1 cm depth), Pan drippings (or butter) (2 tbsp), All-purpose flour (for gravy) (2 tbsp), Whole milk (1.5 cups), Salt & pepper (to taste) (to taste)
Step 1: Pound cube steaks lightly to 1 cm thick if needed. Pat dry.
Step 2: In a shallow dish mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. In another bowl whisk egg with buttermilk.
Step 3: Dredge steak in seasoned flour, dip in buttermilk mixture, then back in flour pressing firmly to adhere. Place on a rack and rest 10 minutes so the crust hydrates.
Step 4: Heat 1 cm oil in a heavy skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry steaks 3–4 minutes per side until deep golden; do not crowd. Transfer to rack; rest 5 minutes.
Step 5 (Cream Gravy): Pour off all but 2 tbsp fat. Whisk in flour over medium heat 1–2 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Simmer 3–5 minutes until it coats a spoon. Season well with salt and plenty of black pepper.
Step 6: Serve steaks topped with cream gravy.