The Best Chicken Fried Steak

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Description

I received this recipe from a co-worker about 5 years ago. This is by far the best chicken fried steak I’ve ever had. I’ve made this numerous times for my picky eater son and my southern-raised better half, as well as other family and friends. I get nothing but rave reviews each time.

Ingredients

  • 4 (1/2 pound) beef cube steaks
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups vegetable shortening for deep frying
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Place steaks between 2 layers of plastic and pound to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
  2. Place 2 cups flour in a shallow bowl.
  3. Stir together baking powder
  4. baking soda 1 teaspoon pepper
  5. and 3/4 teaspoon salt in second shallow bowl. Add buttermilk
  6. Tabasco sauce
  7. egg
  8. and garlic; stir to combine.
  9. Heat shortening in a deep cast-iron skillet to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place a wire rack over a sheet of parchment paper.
  10. While the shortening is heating
  11. dredge a steak in flour to coat; shake off excess. Dip into buttermilk batter; lift up so excess batter drips back into the bowl. Press in flour again to coat both sides completely. Place breaded steak on the wire rack and repeat to bread remaining steaks.
  12. Fry steaks
  13. in batches if necessary
  14. until evenly golden brown
  15. 3 to 5 minutes per side. Remove steaks to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Cover with foil to keep warm while you make the gravy.
  16. Drain fat from the skillet
  17. reserving 1/4 cup of the liquid and as much of the solid remnants as possible.
  18. Return the skillet to medium-low heat; add the reserved oil. Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup flour into the oil. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to release solids into the gravy.
  19. Stir in milk
  20. increase the heat to medium
  21. and bring the gravy to a simmer. Cook
  22. stirring often
  23. until thick
  24. 6 to 7 minutes. Season with kosher salt and pepper.
  25. Transfer steaks to a platter and pour gravy over top.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Servings: 4

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