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Chopped Steak with Caramelized Bourbon Onion Gravy

Source of Recipe

From "Southern Fried" by James Villas


Recipe Introduction

"Once was the time when even the most deluxe steak houses in the country prided themselves as much on a well-concocted and beautifully fried chopped steak as on prized sirloins and fillets, but about the only place today where you find chopped steak (or 'hamburger steak') on the menu is at more humble family restaurants in the South. That's sad, because when ground beef is blended with the right ingredients, properly seasoned, and fried to juicy perfection, nothing is more delicious and economical to prepare at home. For the gravy, fry the onions till they just caramelize but are still soft, and reduce the liquid only till it begins to thicken and coats a spoon."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 1 pound ground beef round
â—¦ 2 scallions (part of green tops included), minced
â—¦ 1 clove garlic, minced
â—¦ 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
â—¦ 1 large egg, beaten
â—¦ ½ teaspoon dry mustard
â—¦ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
â—¦ Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
â—¦ ¼ cup fresh bread crumbs
â—¦ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
â—¦ 2 tablespoons butter
â—¦ 1 large onion, thinly sliced
â—¦ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
â—¦ ½ cup bourbon
â—¦ 1 ½ cups beef broth


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 250° F.

In a bowl, combine the beef, scallions, garlic, parsley, egg, mustard, Worcestershire, salt and pepper, and bread crumbs and mix with your hands till well blended and smooth. Shape the mixture into four oval patties of equal size and set aside.

In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over moderate heat, add the patties, and fry till browned, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the patties to a plate and keep warm in the oven.

Melt the butter in the skillet, reduce the heat slightly, add the onion, and stir till caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle on the flour, stir well, add the bourbon, and stir, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the broth, stir till smooth, bring to a low boil, and cook till the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes. Spoon the gravy over the steaks and serve hot.

Makes 4 servings