Alton Brown Cube Steak Recipes

SWISS STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices and season on both sides with the salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Dredge the pieces of meat on both sides in the flour mixture. Tenderize the meat using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Dredge the slices on both sides once more and set aside.
• Add enough of the bacon drippings or vegetable oil to just cover the bottom of a 4 to 5-quart Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the steaks to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a plate and repeat until all of the steaks have been browned.
• Remove the last steaks from the pot and add the onions, garlic, and celery. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Next add the tomatoes, paprika, oregano, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth and stir to combine. Return the meat to the pot, submerging it in the liquid. Cover the pot and place it in the oven on the middle rack. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender and falling apart.

CUBE STEAK SALISBURY STYLE - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Place oven rack in lower middle position and preheat to 250°F Meanwhile, stir together flour, salt, and black pepper on a large plate. Dredge both sides of each cube steak in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• Add one tablespoon each of oil and butter to Dutch oven and place over medium high heat. When oil is shimmering, add two cube steaks. Cook until golden brown, about four minutes on each side. Remove cube steaks to a plate and set aside. Repeat with remaining two cube steaks, adding more oil and butter if necessary.
• Carefully pour out any fat left in Dutch oven, then add remaining butter and oil. Turn heat to medium-high, and when oil shimmers, add onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is caramelized, about three minutes. Add wine. Using wooden spatula, scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan.
• Add Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and stock. Stir well, then add cube steaks, nestling them into sauce as much as possible. Cover dutch oven and place on lower-middle rack of oven. Cook until very tender, about 25 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
• Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices. Season each piece on both sides with the salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Place the eggs into a separate pie pan. Dredge the meat on both sides in the flour. Tenderize the meat, using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Once tenderized, dredge the meat again in the flour, followed by the egg and finally in the flour again. Repeat with all the pieces of meat. Place the meat onto a plate and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
• Place enough of the vegetable oil to cover the bottom of a 12-inch slope-sided skillet and set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the meat in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook each piece on both sides until golden brown, approximately 4 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a wire rack set in a half sheet pan and place into the oven. Repeat until all of the meat is browned.
• Add the remaining vegetable oil, or at least 1 tablespoon, to the pan. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of the flour left over from the dredging. Add the chicken broth and deglaze the pan. Whisk until the gravy comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Add the milk and thyme and whisk until the gravy coats the back of a spoon, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Season to taste, with more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve the gravy over the steaks.

COUNTRY STYLE STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Dredge the pieces of meat on both sides in the flour. Tenderize the meat, using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Dredge in the flour again and set aside.
• Add enough of the vegetable oil or bacon fat to just cover the bottom of a 4 to 5-quart Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the steaks to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a plate and repeat until all of the steaks have been browned.
• Remove the last steaks from the pot and add the chicken broth and thyme and whisk until the liquid just comes to a boil. Return the steaks to the pot and make sure they are all submerged in the liquid. Cover the pot and place it in the oven on the middle rack. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender and falling apart.