Chicken-Fried Steak With Peppery Cream Gravy

Description

Source: Christmas With Southern Living 2003 - Southern Living

Here's a Southern classic - cube steak crisply coated in cracker crumbs and enhanced by thick white gravy.

Ingredients

• 1 egg white, beaten
• 2 3/4 cups milk, divided
• 20 saltine crackers, crushed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 6 cube steaks (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine

Directions

1. Combine egg white and 1/4 cup milk in a bowl.
2. Combine crushed crackers, 3/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and poultry seasoning in a shallow dish.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
4. Dip 3 steaks, 1 at a time, into egg white mixture; dredge in seasoned crumbs.
5. Press to coat.
6. Fry 4 minutes on each side or until golden.
7. Remove to a wire rack set over a jellyroll pan.
8. Keep warm in a 225° oven.
9. Repeat procedure with remaining 3 steaks.
10. Carefully drain hot oil, reserving browned bits and 2 tablespoons drippings in a skillet.
11. Melt butter in drippings over medium heat.
12. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup flour, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon pepper.
13. Gradually whisk in remaining 2 1/2 cups milk; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened and bubbly.
14. Serve steak and gravy with mashed potatoes.

Yield: 6 servings