Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Cooking in Cast Iron - Baked Steak


I love cooking in cast iron skillets. Problem is.. I don't own any.
(Hint..hint) Mom & Dad if you are reading this it would be an excellent idea for a Christmas gift. Anyways when I make baked steak I always borrow one of their skillets to cook it in. I have used a regular skillet before but it's just not the same. It doesn't cook the same and the gravy is always watery.The clean-up is never fun after cooking in an iron skillet but the food is SOOO much better tasting. So this is what I made for dinner tonight and I thought I would post how I make it. It's pretty basic and simple.


BAKED STEAK


Iron Skillet
2 1/2 pounds round steak
1 cup flour
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
olive oil


Mix flour, salt, bread crumbs, salt & pepper in a bowl & set aside.
Trim the beef of any fat.
Heat skillet first then add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan.
Dredge meat in flour mixture and then place in the hot oil.
Brown both sides of the meat.
Remove meat from pan and place on plate.
Add some water to your skillet ( while still turned on) and scrape the sides and bottom of pan to loosen any bits that are stuck on. This is what makes your gravy good and flavorful.
Once you have everything loosened you can place the meat back in the pan and add enough water to cover the meat.
Place a lid on the skillet and be sure to tilt the lid a little.
Let simmer 3-4 hours on a low heat.
You will need to add more water every so often as it cooks down.
This will make it's own gravy as it cooks.
However, if it is not thick enough you can thicken it with a little flour or use cornstarch & water. Serve with mashed potatoes, vegetables, applesauce and hot rolls.

Home-cooked meal that is always a big hit at our house !



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