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Chicken Kyiv
Kotleta po-kyivsky (котлета по-київськи): crumbed chicken breast filled with garlic-herb butter
Chicken Kyiv, kotleta po-kyivsky, became the pride of the restaurants of Kyiv in the 20th century, and the city still serves it with a little paper frill on the bone and a fountain of herb butter when it is cut. A flattened chicken breast is rolled around a frozen stick of garlic, dill and parsley butter, double-crumbed to seal it, then fried and finished in the oven. Serve with mash or fried potatoes and a green salad. Chef's tip: freeze the butter until rock hard and seal every edge with two coats of egg and crumbs; that is what stops it from leaking.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the herb butter
For the chicken
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mash 3 ½ oz unsalted butter with 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp fresh dill, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tsp lemon juice and ¼ tsp salt. Shape into 4 small fingers on baking paper and freeze for at least 1 hour until hard.
65 minStep 2: Lay each 4 skinless chicken breasts breast between cling film and pound to an even 5 mm, keeping it in one piece without holes. Season with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Wash your hands, board and mallet after handling raw chicken.
10 minStep 3: Put a frozen butter finger in the middle of each breast, fold in the sides and roll up tightly into a parcel, enclosing the butter completely.
8 minStep 4: Dip each parcel in 2 ⅛ oz plain flour, then 3 eggs, then 7 oz fine dry breadcrumbs. Repeat the egg and crumbs for a second coat, pressing the ends well. Chill for 30 minutes so the coating sets.
35 minStep 5: Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan). Heat 6 ¼ cups vegetable oil for deep-frying in a deep heavy pan, no more than a third full, to 350°F. Fry 2 parcels at a time for 4–5 minutes, turning gently, until deep golden. Lower them in with a slotted spoon, never leave the oil unattended, and keep a lid nearby.
12 minStep 6: Transfer to a rack on a tray and bake for 12–15 minutes until the centre reaches 165°F. Rest for 3 minutes. A common mistake is serving it at once; the butter inside is extremely hot, so warn diners when cutting.
18 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 720 kcal
- Protein
- 48 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 40 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chicken Kyiv take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 50 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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