Chicken Chop is a quintessential Southern comfort meal! Seasoned tender steak wrapped in a thick batter, deep fried until golden brown, served with a creamy gravy, fried okra, and mashed potatoes; just the basic ingredients to bring this dish to life in your kitchen!
It's hard to think of a more classic Southern dish than schnitzel. My family can't get enough of these delicious steaks, crispy skin and mouthwatering gravy.
In this blog, we'll take you through the story of delicious chicken cutlets and provide you with home recipes to make the perfect quick chicken cutlet batter, chicken cutlet recipes, and the perfect sauce!
Bonus: don't forget to follow the tips at the bottom of the blog to make the best gravy chicken cutlets ever!
A Brief History of American Fried Chicken Steaks
The origins of this ultimate comfort dish, fried chicken cutlet, are controversial. It's often associated with a South American dish called "Milanesa," a fillet of fish coated with beef, veal, chicken, or pork that was brought to the continent by Italian immigrants in the 1860s.
These Italian immigrants brought with them a native Austrian delicacy known as "wiener schnitzel," which is breaded and egg-coated veal (and occasionally pork) lightly fried. In the 19th century, beef cuts were commonly used because they were more economical and more readily available; therefore, spices and breadcrumbs were often used before frying to enhance flavor and texture.
Why is it called "chicken cutlet" made of beef?
The name Fried Chicken Steak comes from the type of food, which is very similar to fried chicken. Traditionally seasoned flour is used to coat round steak, pork or chicken, then brushed again with egg and flour before placing in the deep fryer.
This classic Southern dish is currently served in a variety of places, from five-star restaurants to diners, and is prepared in many ways, from breakfast platters and dinners to burgers. Today, this mashed steak is available in the United States, although the most famous recipes come from Oklahoma and Texas. The former state made the court an official state dinner in 1988. Warm roast beef in a rich gravy with a selection of vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes; nothing like it. Let's get started making the ultimate country-style chicken cutlet.
Quick Fried Chicken Batter
No southern chicken chop is complete without the perfect batter to hold the tender tenderloin inside. To make a quick chicken steak batter, you need to follow the right recipe; it's the jewel of our house!
Ingredients
● ½ cup whole milk
● 2 whole eggs
● 2 cups all-purpose flour
● An appropriate amount of salt
● Crushed black pepper to taste
● ¾ teaspoon paprika
● ½ pepper
Chicken Chop Recipe
Ingredients:
• 3-pound tenderloin steak (or meat of your choice)
• ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
Recipe
Set up a cutlery assembly line for a quick and easy process. In one bowl, combine the milk and eggs, in another bowl combine the flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, and paprika, and in a third add the tender beef slices. Finally prepare a clean plate for the breaded meat.
Only work with one piece of meat at a time. Rub both sides of the meat with a pinch of salt and black pepper, then coat with a flour and spice mixture. Brush the other side, pat lightly, pour in the milk/egg, pour the mixture over the meat and coat in turn. Finally, sprinkle with flour (dry mix/wet mix/dry mix). Repeat with remaining breaded meat on a clean plate.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour in butter. To make sure it's hot enough, add a few drops of flour. You'll know the butter is done when it sizzles immediately. Fry the meat for about 2 minutes per side or until the edges are golden brown. Place the meat on a plate lined with paper towels and cover lightly with another bowl or a sheet of aluminum foil to keep warm. Repeat this until all the meat is cooked.
Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
• ¼ cup cream
• 2-3 tablespoons. drip or butter
• 3 tablespoons. all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk (more or less depending on preference)
• Freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste
Recipe
Take the pot off the heat. Remove everything but 2-3 tablespoons. fat in the pan. Add 3 tablespoons. All-purpose flour and cook. Continue stirring until it turns golden brown, which should ideally take less than 5 minutes.
When the roux (flour-fat) mixture is smooth, slowly add the milk and cream. It's important to note that the mixture will set at first but loosen as you stir in more liquid.
For the sauce, add milk to get the desired thickness. If the sauce is too thick for you, add extra milk. If it's too thin, let it cook a little longer. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
What's the difference between country-style grilled chicken chops and grilled chicken chops?
Today, most people confuse chicken schnitzel with country-style chicken schnitzel, although there are significant differences between the two dishes.
The decisive difference is the coating!
Before frying, dip the chicken cutlet in seasoned flour, then in buttermilk or egg, whichever the chef prefers, and then the steak is back in the flour. On the other hand, country-style grilled chicken chops are just sprinkled with seasoned flour before baking. The extra flour and milk makes for a very thick and hearty crust on the chicken cutlet.
Three Tips for Preparing the Best Fried Chicken Steaks and Gravy
1) Pat the steak dry and season with salt and pepper before coating. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture from the skin and allow the fragrance to penetrate deeper.
2) Cook only two steaks at a time to minimize steaming and sticking. Grilling steaks in a large skillet instead of frying them reduces mess and lets you use less oil.
3) Use the remaining flour and oil to make the sauce. Instead of using "fresh" flour to thicken the sauce, use some of the seasoned flour used to coat the steak. Because the flour is baked in a small amount of frying oil, it's completely safe (and a great way to reduce waste!).
Is Texas Fried Chicken Famous?
Chicken steak is very popular in Texas. Texas even had a state holiday, Texas Chicken and Steak Day, introduced in October 2011.
Try it!
If you live in the South, you've probably had chicken cutlets. If you haven't tried this delicious dish yet, don't worry; try our quick and easy but absolutely delicious grilled chicken steak and savory gravy recipe for your family and friends and you'll be raved about the deliciousness!
（Writer：Hira Azam Khan）
