Chicken Fried Steak With White Gravy

Source: Thrown Down with Bobby Flay

Love wathcing Food Network, Thrown down with Bobby Flay.  Another recipe Bobby Flay verse Paula Deen's Southen Chicken Fried Steak.   This is Bobby Flay's recipe & tested.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 pound boneless round steak ~ fat trimmed & pounded 1/4" thick
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Salt & ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp sweet paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
Canola oil for frying

White Gravy:
2 tbsp AP flour
2 cups whole milk ~ heated
2 tbsp heavy cream
Finely chopped fresh thyme
Salt & ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 120 deg C.  Cut the steak into 4 equal portions.
2. Place the buttermilk in a medium baking dish & season with salt & pepper.   Combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne & 2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp ground black pepper in a bowl & divide 2 baking dishes.
3. Dredge the pcs a few at a time in the flour mixture & pat off excess, then dip in the buttermilk & allow excess to drain off.   Dredge in the second dish of flour & pat off the excess.   Put the steak pieces on a baking rack set over a baking sheet while the oil heats.
4. Place 1" of oil in a large cast iron skillet until it reaches 350 degress F on a thermometer.   Add the steak, 2 pcs at a time & cook until golden brown on both sides.   Remove to a plate lined with paper towels & season with salt.   Repeat with the remaining meat.   Transfer the meat to a rack set on a baking sheet & place in the oven to keep warm while you make the gravy.
5. Remove all but 2 tbsp of the fat from the pan, leaving the crunchy pieces from the breading.   Return the pan to the stove over medium heat.   Whisk the flour into the pan & let cook for 1 min.   Slowly whisk in the warm milk & continue to cook, whisking occasionally until thickened.   Stir in the heavy cream & thyme & season with salt & lots of ground black pepper.   Serve 1 pce per person laddled with some of the sauce.