Southern Living's Country Fried Steak

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 (4 ounce) cube steaks
• 38 saltine crackers, crushed
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 4 3/4 cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups peanut oil
• chopped fresh parsley, to garnish

Recipe

• 1 sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over steaks.
• 2 set aside.
• 3 combinecracker crumbs, 1 cup flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and red pepper.
• 4 whisk together 3/4 cup milk and eggs.
• 5 dredge steaks in cracker crumb mixture; dip in milk mixture, and dredge in cracker mixture again.
• 6 pour oil into a 12-inch skillet;heat to 360 degrees.
• 7 do not use a nonstick skillet.
• 8 i like to use a cast iron skillet for this.
• 9 fry steaks 10 minutes.
• 10 turn and fry 4 to 5 more minutes or until golden brown.
• 11 remove to a wire rack on a jellyroll pan.
• 12 keep steaks warm in a 225 degree oven.
• 13 carefully drain hot oil, reserving cooked bits and 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet.
• 14 whisk together remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 4 cups milk.
• 15 pour mixture into reserved drippings in skillet; cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, 10 to 12 minutes, or until thickened.
• 16 serve gravy with steaks and mashed potatoes.
• 17 sprinkle with parsley, if desired.