Claire Whitley | Crumbs
This country fried steak is prepared in a similar manner to southern fried chicken. It is often called chicken-fried steak, but most Southerners call it smothered steak. It is great with mashed potatoes — especially homemade ones.
Ingredients:
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup of milk
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup bacon drippings
- 4 cube steaks
Onion gravy:
- 2 tablespoons bacon drippings
- 1 cup minced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- Salt and pepper as desired
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
- In a bowl, combine egg with milk and whisk until blended.
- In another bowl, combine bread crumbs, cayenne and salt and mix until blended. Transfer to a flat plate.
- Dip each steak into the egg-milk mixture one at a time, then coat with bread crumbs on each side.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat bacon drippings. Add steaks two at a time and cook until golden brown or about two minutes on each side. Transfer cooked steaks to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while making the gravy.
- Reserve drippings in the skillet and add the 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings. Set the stove on high heat. Add onion, then stir constantly and scrap up brown bits from the bottom until the onion is translucent — this takes 30-60 seconds. Sprinkle flour and cook for about 30 seconds longer.
- Using a whisk, mix cream and milk, then bring to a boil. Reduce stove heat to medium and let cool until thickened, which takes about 5-8 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Serve steak with gravy at once.
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected]