Chicken-fried steak is home-cooked Texas food at its best. Brought to us by the cowboys on the plains of Texas, this dish has evolved into a classic dish that all Texans and non-Texans alike will sure to love. Although there are many variations of this classic Texas dish, the recipe below results in a perfectly spicy, crispy crust. Of course, no chicken fried steak is complete without white cream gravy, so a classic recipe for that is also included below.
Chicken Fried Steak
\"steak Recipe\"
Ingredients:
1 3/4 to 3 pounds round steak, sliced 1/2 inch thick, and then tenderized (cube steak).
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
2 garlic cloves, minced
vegetable shortening or oil for frying
Directions:
Cut the steak into 4 equal portions. If not already tenderized, pound the round steak portions until they are about 1/4 inch thick.
Place the flour in a shallow bowl or dish. In another dish, stir together the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper. Mix in the buttermilk, egg, hot pepper sauce, and garlic. The mixture will be thin.
Dredge each cut of steak first into the flour and then into the batter. Dunk the steaks back into the flour and pat in the flour until the surface of the meat is dry.
Add enough oil into a deep cast-iron dutch oven or skillet to at least 4 inches of fat. Bring the temperature of the grease up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry the steaks for 7 to 8 minutes, pushing them down into the oil when they begin to float, and flipping them once, until they are a nice golden brown on both sides. Drain the steaks and place them on a platter, keeping them warm while you prepare the white cream gravy (below).
Chicken fried steaks are traditionally served with mash potatoes, with the cream gravy generously covering both.
Classic White Cream Gravy
Ingredients:
1/4 cup pan drippings (reserved from the chicken fried steak oil)
2 cups evaporated milk
1 cup beef stock
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
salt to taste
Directions:
Place the skillet over medium heat and sprinkle in the flour, stirring to avoid lumps in the gravy. Pour in the evaporated milk and beef stock. Simmer until the liquid has thickened, about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the pepper and salt to taste. The gravy should be quite peppery, so add more pepper if needed.
Billy Bristol is the writer and editor for Food in Texas, a website devoted to the celebration of tradition homemade Texas Food. With simple recipes and cooking ideas that bring out the best in classic Texas cuisine, Food in Texas is creating its own culinary legacy.
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