The Frugal Foodie: Cube Steaks: Simply Awesome

“I mean I like your frou-frou vegetarian stuff, but this is AWESOME!” was my husband’s response after trying my latest creation. I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.

It was a cold fall day, and he had told me he was hungry for a manly-man meal.  We’re talking meat and potatoes here ladies, pasta and veggies wasn’t going to cut it.  To top it off, he had spent the afternoon doing he-man work in the yard like using his chainsaw and fixing a fence.  He needed a hearty meal. With hubby playing the traditional male, I followed suit with the female role.  I tied my proverbial apron stings and went to work in the kitchen.

This is what I came up with.  I started with a basic cube steak recipe, but added the mushrooms (to appeal to the near-vegetarian in me) and the onions for flavor.  I have to admit, it was pretty good.   Cube steaks are pretty inexpensive, but done this way they were tender and flavorful.  Hopefully you, too, will find this dish simply awesome.



Cube Steaks w/Mushroom Gravy

½ C. vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
6 cube steaks
1 ½ C. flour
Steak seasoning
½ C. flour
4 C. beef stock
½ tsp. black pepper
1 large onion
1 package fresh mushrooms, cut in fourths.
2 Tbsp. butter

Heat oil in a large sauté pan.  Add garlic cloves.  Dredge cube steaks in 1 ½ C. flour seasoned with the steak seasoning.  Brown well.  Remove to casserole.  Add butter to remaining oil in the pan and sauté onions and mushrooms.  Add remaining flour, whisk.  Add beef stock and black pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Pour sauce over steaks in casserole dish.  Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for one hour.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream.