Best Buttermilk Chicken Fried Steak Recipes

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Place saran wrap over each cube steak and use the rough end of a meat tenderizer to pound it thin, about ½ inch thick or so. This really makes a nice difference in the consistency of the meat even though cube steak has already been tenderized.
• Pat the steaks completely dry. Combine the marinade ingredients in a large casserole dish.
• Cover and marinate the steaks in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or overnight. (The longer the better.)
• Combine breading ingredients. Generously coat each steak just before you fry it.
• Add enough oil to cover the steak by 1/3 and heat it to 350° F. (Make sure it's properly preheated or the breading will fall off.)
• Cook the steaks in batches of 2, leaving room around each. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Use kitchen tongs to carefully check the bottom and flip.
• Remove and transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow excess oil to drip out from the bottom. This keeps the bottom nice and crispy.
• Once all the steaks are fried, keep them warm in a 200° F oven while you prepare the gravy.
• Transfer the pan drippings into a small heat-proof bowl. Don't clean the pan.
• Allow the black flecks to fall to the bottom and skim 3 tablespoons of clean oil off the top. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in the same pan over medium heat.
• Whisk in the flour for 1 minute to cook off the raw flour taste.
• Add the oil drippings and minced garlic. cook for 1 minute.
• Add the seasonings, and then the chicken broth in splashes, stirring continuously.
• Add milk and half and half in splashes, stirring continuously. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
• Let it simmer and thicken until desired consistency is obtained.

BUTTERMILK COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• 1. Season steaks with salt and pepper to taste. Heat oil on stovetop to 350 degrees.
• 2. In one bowl mix buttermilk and egg with fork. In another bowl add flour and season with salt and pepper and cayenne, to taste.
• 3. Dip each steak into egg wash, let excess drip off. Roll both sides in flour and shake off excess.
• 4. Fry 1 or 2 pieces at a time until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side, depending on how big the steaks are.
• 5. Drain on paper towels.

THE BEST CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Liberally sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper (see Cook's Note). Put them on a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and let sit at room temperature while you make the gravy.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the flour until combined and cook until golden and bubbling, about 1 minute. Whisk in the whole milk, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, whisking frequently, until the gravy boils. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, whisking occasionally, until the gravy thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and keep warm; it will seem loose but will thicken as it sits.
• Whisk the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl. Whisk the buttermilk, egg and hot sauce in a medium bowl. Working with 1 steak at a time, dredge in the seasoned flour, turning to coat and packing into the crevices. Shake to remove any excess and return to the rack. Repeat with the remaining steaks.
• Pour 3 tablespoons of the buttermilk mixture into the seasoned flour and work it in with your fingers; it should feel like wet sand with some clumps. (These clumps will give the steak a crispy, shaggy crust.) Dip the dredged steaks into the remaining buttermilk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Pack the moistened flour firmly onto each steak. Very gently shake off any excess and return to the rack. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Pour the oil into a large cast-iron skillet fitted with a deep-fry thermometer (the oil should come about halfway up the sides). Heat the oil over high heat until the thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Fry the steaks in 2 batches until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Whisk the warm cream gravy to loosen it and serve over the chicken-fried steak.