Is It A Chicken? Is It A Steak? It's A Chicken Fried Steak!

For lovers of diner delicacies and fried food fantasies, chicken fried steak is a favorite of those in the know or a soon-to-be favorite of those who have yet to experience it. For those who've never had one, a chicken fried steak is incredibly tasty and a work of simple (although admittedly not very healthful) genius. If there hasn't been an episode of "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives" entirely devoted to Guy Fieri sampling the best chicken fried steaks on either side of the Mississippi, I'd be very surprised (and they're probably working on it right now).

Imagine a Salisbury steak coated in fried chicken batter and deep fried and you've got the basics of the chicken fried steak. It's easy to make if you have the ingredients (meat, breading, oil and seasonings) and either a fry pan or a deep fryer. Just apply the coating and fry it up until its brown and crisp. In the deep fryer, you just allow it to cook on its own. In a skillet, make sure to turn it periodically so you don't over cook the coating.

Pan Fried Chicken

For some recipes, a solid rather than ground steak is used, although you won't usually see a prime cut chicken fried steak. The breading, seasoning and the frying provide most of the flavor. The steak provides the nutrition and the texture, but flavor-wise it's almost an added bonus. Frying the meat in oil also makes it more tender than meat cooked on a grill. If you want to try solid rather than ground meat, a cheaper cut will do as long as it's not too thick.

Just like the colonel has his secret blend of herbs and spices, keepers of the best chicken fried steak recipes have theirs. Without the seasoning, it just wouldn't be a chicken fried steak. Although there are plenty of very good recipes available online, it's also perfectly acceptable to add a pinch of this and a dash of that until it seems right. If you're used to that improvisational style of blending ingredients, chances are you'll come up with something to tantalize the palate.

Whatever ingredients you use, the fact that you're serving it will usually be a welcome surprise. It makes a great lunch or dinner and an especially unique and tasty breakfast or brunch. Any time it's served, it's good, plain comfort food. I goes great with any kind of potatoes, vegetables rice or sauce. Accompanied by a nice tossed salad will healthy it up some. With eggs, hash browns, home fries or grits, chicken fried steak is a real stick-to-your ribs breakfast or brunch.

You've probably seen it on the menu at a coffee shop or diner. Maybe it's something you even order on occasion or perhaps on a regular basis. But if you've never served chicken fried steak as a meal for family or friends, give it a try. It's something a little different that people will love.

Is It A Chicken? Is It A Steak? It's A Chicken Fried Steak!

Marc Jeffrey Davis is a writer and entrepreneur who's living the good life and doing his best to share it. His website on the various Futons For Sale also looks at Futon Mattress Covers and more.

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