Idaho-Style Deep-Fried Steak

Ingredients:

Steak

• 1 boneless sirloin steak or pounded top round steak weighing 450g and approximately 1cm thick.
• 2 cups of sour milk or kefir
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp granulated garlic
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 2 tsp sweet paprika
• 2 cups premium flour
• Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
• Cocktail sauce, for serving
• French fries, for serving
• Special equipment: deep fat thermometer

Sauce

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 0.5 tsp sweet paprika

Preparation:

1. Deep-fried steak:
   
   Trim excess fat and membranes from the steak and cut the meat into strips 1 cm wide and 5-7 cm long. In a large bowl, combine the sour milk, Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon each of black pepper, granulated garlic, dry mustard, and paprika. Add the steak strips to the sour milk mixture, stir, then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2. Sauce:
   
   Meanwhile, in a bowl, thoroughly combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, paprika, a good pinch of salt, and some freshly ground black pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Store for up to 2 days.
3. Pour about 8 cm of vegetable oil into a large Dutch oven. Attach a deep-fry thermometer to the side of the pan and heat the oil to 175°C.
4. In a shallow bowl, combine flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and the remaining 1 teaspoon each of pepper, granulated garlic, dry mustard, and paprika. Line a plate with paper towels. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat from the marinade to a plate. Reserve the marinade in the bowl. Dredge the steak strips, a few at a time, in the seasoned flour, then dip them in the marinade and dredge them again in the seasoned flour to coat them thoroughly on all sides.
5. Drop a few steak strips into the hot oil. Fry, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, about 4 minutes. Transfer with a clean slotted spoon to the prepared plate. Repeat with the remaining steak strips.
6. Serve steak pieces with gravy, cocktail sauce and, if desired, French fries.