Target: 6 × 4 inches · landscape

Crisp Chicken-Fried Steak Dinner

75 min · 4 servings

Ingredients

□ 4 (4-ounce) cube steaks

□ 1 head garlic

□ 1 tbsp olive oil

□ 2 lb russet potatoes

□ 4 tbsp butter

□ 3/4 cup whole milk

□ 6 slices bacon, chopped

□ 1 lb green beans, trimmed

□ 1 small onion, thinly sliced

□ 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

□ 1 tsp baking powder

□ 1 tsp kosher salt

□ 1 tsp garlic powder

□ 1/2 tsp paprika

□ 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided

□ 2 large eggs

□ 3/4 cup buttermilk

□ 1 1/2 cups finely crushed saltine crackers

□ 1/2 cup neutral frying oil

1. Roast oiled garlic at 400 F until soft. Crisp bacon, then cook onion and green beans in its fat until tender-crisp.

2. Boil, drain, and mash potatoes with roasted garlic, butter, and milk. Set out seasoned flour, egg-buttermilk, and crackers.

3. Flour, egg, and double-cracker coat steaks; rest. Shallow-fry at 350 F in batches until deep golden and crisp.

4. Reserve 3 tbsp steak drippings. Make a blond flour roux, then whisk in milk and pepper for thick country gravy.

5. Warm sides gently. Plate mashed potatoes, steak, and beans; add gravy just before serving.

Cook’s note: A wire rack and a double cracker coating keep the shallow-fried crust exceptionally crisp.