Chicken Fried Pork With Milk Gravy

This recipe is like the chicken fried steak you grew up with, only uses boneless rib pork chops. You will need a meat mallet with a rough textured side and also a deep fat thermometer. I discovered this recipe in Gourmet.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4  boneless pork chops (1/2-inch thick, 1 1/2 lb total)
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 3  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 3⁄4 teaspoons salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1  large egg
• 3 1⁄4 cups  whole milk
• 2  cups  vegetable oil

Directions

1. Pound pork chops on both sides with rough-textured side of meat pounder until 1/4 inch thick.
2. Season with salt and pepper and cut into 3-inch pieces.
3. Whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a shallow dish.
4. Whisk together egg, 3/4 cup milk, remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper in another shallow dish.
5. Dip pork pieces in egg mixture to coat, then dredge in flour.
6. Transfer pork as coated to a large rack set on a baking sheet.
7. Let pork stand, uncovered, at room temperature 15 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 250°F.
9. Heat oil in a deep 10-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over high heat until thermometer registers 375°F (see cooks' note, below).
10. Fry pork in batches, turning over once, until golden, about 4 minutes per batch, transferring to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 375°F between batches.
11. Keep pork warm on a clean baking sheet in oven.
12. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons oil into a heatproof bowl, leaving any brown bits in bottom of skillet, then add remaining 3 tablespoons flour to skillet and cook roux over moderate heat, stirring constantly, 3 minutes.
13. Bring to a boil and whisk in remaining 2 1/2 cups milk.
14. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes.
15. Season gravy with salt and pepper (to taste) and serve over pork.
16. ** Note:
17. To take the temperature of a shallow amount of oil with a metal flat-framed deep-fat thermometer, put bulb of thermometer facedown in skillet, resting other end (not plastic handle) on rim of skillet. Check temperature frequently.
18. Makes 4 servings.