Calf Fries With Cracked-Pepper Gravy

Ingredients

Cooking Directions

Calf Fries

Prepare the batter by mixing eggs with a whisk in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk and beer. Whisk to blend. Set aside. In a deep, heavy skillet, heat the oil to 350. While the oil is heating, prepare the calf fries by dredging them in the flour spice, taking care to evenly coat. Shake off any excess flour. Dip the calf fries into the batter, and then again in the flour spice, evenly coating the batter so it is dry on the outside.

When the oil temperature reaches 350 (when a drop of batter sizzles when dropped it in), gently slide 12 calf fries into the hot oil. Cook about 3 minutes. Turn them, taking care not to break the coating, and cook them 3 more minutes or until the batter is nicely browned. Drain the cooked calf fries on paper towels. Repeat for the other two batches. Hold the cooked calf fries in a 225 oven until all 3 batches are done. Serve with cracked-pepper gravy (ingredients & recipe below).

Cracked-Pepper Gravy

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. When the foam goes down, whisk in the flour. Continually whisk until the flour cooks, becoming a fragrant light brown. Slowly add the milk, continuing to whisk to keep lumps from forming. Season with salt and pepper.

Simmer gravy for 10 minutes to cook and reduce. Serve hot.

Recipes courtesy of Grady Spears "A Cowboy in the Kitchen," © 1998