Now, you cannot serve Chicken Fried Steak without gravy. That is a felony in twelve states, including Oklahoma. The gravy is made from the pan drippings, milk, and enough black pepper to clear a sinus infection.
It’s called “cream gravy” or “sawmill gravy,” but really it’s just liquid love with a pepper kick. You pour it over the entire steak until the plate looks like a white, peppery lake. If you can see the steak, you haven’t used enough gravy. Pour until the steak begs for mercy.
A shocking fact: the average diner version has about 1,000 calories before you add the sides. That’s like eating a whole pizza, but with a fork and a sense of purpose. It’s not unhealthy; it’s efficient.
The Sides Situation
You almost always get it with mashed potatoes. Why? Because you’ve already made gravy, so you might as well drown potatoes in it too. It’s a gravy ecosystem. The potatoes are the land, the steak is the mountain, and the gravy is the river of delicious destruction.
Delicious Southern Chicken Fried Steak: 4 Tasty Tips - recipes molly baz
Some rebels get green beans or coleslaw. Don’t trust those people. They’re the same ones who order salad at a steakhouse. The correct side is mashed potatoes, or perhaps fries if you want to create a starch-on-starch crime scene. No jury would convict you.
Fun fact: Chicken Fried Steak is the official state meal of Oklahoma. Yes, they have an official state meal. Oklahoma takes its fried cow-chicken hybrid very seriously. They probably have a cabinet position for it.
