(Almost) Cube Steak with Gravy

So I’ve actually never made cube steak… or if I have, it was so unmemorable that I have forgotten.  But it’s one of those things that I have aspired to make well.  So tonight I decided to give it a try.  Only problem, I didn’t actually have “cubed steak” – but I did have ground beef; really, really awesome organic ground beef from Costco that is the best tasting ground beef I have ever, ever had, hands down.  So I decided to improvise.  I figured that if I made my ground beef into thin enough patties, and then treated it just like cube steak, it would work.  Well, it did – it was awesome!  It was the kind of awesome that made me want to get on the phone and tell my friends about how awesome it was (which I did LOL).  Really good.  Now of course this dish is not the healthiest thing you can fix for dinner, but as I say, everything in moderation (however, moderation is tough with this one).  But it is made from scratch using good quality ingredients, so in my book, that counts for something!

I served this over white rice – Jasmine rice to be exact.  Jasmine rice is by far my favorite – it cooks perfectly in 15 minutes, is never sticky and always maintains a good texture.  When I’m making my rice, I always add a little olive oil and about a teaspoon of salt.  The gravy with this rice is to die for – reminds me of a dish I loved growing up called Corned Beef and Rice and brought back all kinds of good memories.  The boys loved this as well (although they like just about anything with ground beef).  And I would say dinner was perfect, except that I inhaled a piece of rice in my first bite and I spent 10 minutes or so coughing and choking on it – but other than that, it was a dinner success!

(Almost) Cube Steak with Gravy

1 1/3 lb ground beef
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp butter
1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1 medium onion, chopped fine
3 tbsp flour
2 cups beef broth
Splash of half and half (or milk)
Salt and pepper

1.) Separate beef into 6 equal parts and press to make very thin patties, but not too thin since you will need to be able to handle the meat without it breaking apart. Season meat well with salt and pepper.
2.) In a pie plate, mix flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika.
3.) Heat oil and butter in an electric skillet at 350 degrees.  Dredge patties in seasoned flour and then place into hot oil/butter.  Cook on each side for about 3 minutes.  Remove from skillet and set on paper towels.
4.) Add onion to the beef drippings and cook until translucent. Sprinkle flour over onions and mix well.  Add beef broth and a splash of half and half.  Cook until gravy begins to thicken, about 2 to 3 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste (pepper is your friend in this dish!). Turn off heat. Add beef patties back to the skillet and smother with gravy.  Serve over white rice.