Chicken fried steak is a popular Southern comfort food consisting of a cubed steak fried in flour and served with traditional sides. It can be cooked in various fats and topped with different types of gravy or sauces. Similar dishes include Wiener Schnitzel and Salisbury steak.
Southern or country-style cooking is famous for its fried foods. A popular meal, chicken steak, consists of a tender cubed piece of steak, pan-fried in flour. Considered a comfort food for many people, it’s typically served with traditional Southern-style sides, such as green beans, mashed potatoes, or corn on the cob.
Chicken fried steak is also known as CFS or pork steak. If the recipe also calls for an egg sauce during the frying process, it can be referred to as a fried steak. The steak’s name is in regards to its cooking preparations, which are similar to those used to cook fried chicken. In addition to cooking oil, CFS can be cooked in butter, shortening, lard or other fats.
Most chicken fried steak recipes call for the meat to be topped with some sort of sauce. The traditional gravy used is typically made with peppered milk. Different regions may specialize in various types of gravy. Some areas may use brown gravy or sweet additions like cinnamon and sugar within the milky gravy.
Some diners may even fry the meal itself within the gravy. Others might fill the gravy with side items, like mushrooms or onions. Chipotle or cayenne pepper can be used in hotter sauces, while garlic powder and onion can provide a unique, tangy flavor. Most cooks call for a medium-thin gravy. Milk or water can be added to the gravy to thin it out if needed.
To make a simple chicken steak, sift together half a cup (68 grams) of flour and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix one large egg and two tablespoons (30 milliliters) of water in a shallow pan. In another dish, pour three-quarters of a cup (100 grams) of the buttermilk cooking mix. Spread four pound (quarter-pound) steaks into each of the three mixtures in successive order.
Pour one-third of a cup (79 milliliters) of vegetable oil into a skillet over medium heat. Fry each piece of meat in the mixture for 4-5 minutes on each side. Each side should be golden brown and crispy. Once fried, pour any sauce flavor of your choice over the chicken fried steaks and serve.
In relation to global cuisine, chicken fried steak is very similar to the Austrian Wiener Schnitzel meal. Also known as milanesa in Latin America and collops in Scotland, cutlet is similarly fried and made from beef or veal. Some varieties are also fried in breadcrumbs. It should be noted that some places also refer to Salisbury steak, which consists of minced meat covered in a brown gravy, as country steak.
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