Fried Cube Steaks and Parsley Butter Potatoes with Garlic

Mmmmm . . . fried cube steaks.  That crunchy breadcrumb coating over a tasty piece of beef.  This is always a family favorite meal.  Besides the fact that it is very budget friendly, it’s homey, it’s comforting, and it’s quick and easy.  My mom made the best cube steaks.  There were 5 of us kids and this was a meal that none of us every complained about (unlike when she would try to feed us liver and onions!).  Now Tonia and I make it when the kids come over on Sunday’s or just for ourselves.  It is just one of those meals that lends us to conversation and relaxation together while cooking and sitting down to eat after a long day at work.  

Fried Cube Steaks

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Ingredients for Potatoes

• Salt
• Pepper
• White potatoes
• 1/2 stick butter
• 3/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 clove of grated or minced garlic

Peel potatoes and cut them into 1” pieces.  They do not all have to be uniform but roughly the same size so they cook at the same.  Place the potatoes into a pan of cold water.  Bring to a boil and let boil approximately 12 minutes depending on your stove.  Cook until fork tender so that they almost break apart when you stick your fork in them.  When potatoes are done, pour them into a strainer.  While they are in the strainer, place the pan back on the stove and add the butter and garlic to the pan.  If you like larger pieces of garlic you can mince the garlic instead of grating it.  In this dish though, I like the garlic to smoothly blend into the potatoes so I grate it.  Over low heat, let the garlic sauté for 3 minutes or so.  Do not brown the butter.  Return the potatoes to the pan and stir so that they are coated in the butter and garlic sauce.  Add the parsley and toss to coat.


Ingredients for Cube Steaks

• 1/4 Tsp Salt
• 1/4 Tsp Pepper
• 2 eggs + 2 tbsp water
• ~ 1 cups Italian flavored breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs (for an extra crunch)
• 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
• 1 garlic clove grated
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (optional)
• 4 cube steaks ( I like to pound mine out a little)
• Olive Oil for frying

Whisk eggs and water in a shallow dish. Combine breadcrumbs, grated cheese, garlic and parsley (if using) in another shallow dish.  Season steaks with salt and pepper. Dip each piece into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off into the dish, and then dip into the breadcrumb mixture, turn to coat pressing the breadcrumbs onto the meat. 

 In a large nonstick skillet heat olive oil over medium high heat.  Add the steaks and cook until golden brown on the first side, about 4 minutes. Turn the steaks and cook until the steaks are cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes more.  Remove from pan and place on a piece of tinfoil in a warm oven until your side dishes are ready.

If you do not like garlic, you can leave it out of both dishes.  It will still be just as delicious (but we love to eat a lot of garlic)  I like to dip my bites of cube steak into Mad Cat Hot Sauce.  It is a very tasty compliment to the cube steak.  Not to spicy but has a great flavor to it as well as heat.  Serve with your favorite vegetable or applesauce for a family meal that everyone will agree is Mangialicious! 

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