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Chicken Kiev
Using fresh bread crumbs and brightening the butter in the center with fresh dill and lemon are key to making the ultimate chicken Kiev. Jenny Huang | Food Stylist: Tyna Hoang

Though it’s named for Ukraine’s capital city, chicken Kiev is probably not a Ukrainian dish. Some say it was conceived by the French inventor Nicolas Appert in the 18th century; others claim it was created at a private club in Moscow in 1912. Either way, we love it for its crisp exterior and its luscious core of dill-flavored butter.

To make one cup of fresh bread crumbs, cut the crusts off of three slices of white sandwich bread, tear the bread into pieces, and pulse it in a food processor—two or three times for coarse crumbs, more for a finer consistency.

Featured in: The Enduring Appeal of Chicken Kiev

Equipment

Chicken Kiev Chicken Kiev
We love this dish for its crisp exterior and its luscious core of dill-flavored butter.
Yield: serves 4
Time: 50 min., plus 2 hr. resting time

Ingredients

  • 8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1½ tsp. finely chopped fresh dill
  • 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (about 6 oz. each)
  • 4 cups fresh bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the butter, dill, lemon juice, and cayenne. Season with salt and pepper; mix well. Spread a 12-inch piece of plastic wrap on a work surface, and mound the butter onto one end, forming a 2-by-3-inch rectangle. Wrap the butter in the plastic, retaining the shape, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  2. Place each chicken breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap; using a mallet, pound them evenly to ¼-inch thickness. Season each chicken breast with salt and pepper. Retrieve the compound butter from the refrigerator, and cut lengthwise into 4 equal-size bars. Place 1 bar in the center of each breast. Fold the ends over the butter; roll up each piece tightly to enclose the butter. Secure with toothpicks, if desired.
  3. Whisk together bread crumbs, thyme, and 1 tsp. salt in a bowl and season generously with pepper. Put flour and eggs into 2 separate shallow dishes. Working with 1 chicken roll at a time, dredge in flour, then eggs, followed by bread crumbs. (Firmly press bread crumbs onto chicken; shake off excess.) Transfer to a sheet pan, cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  4. In a large straight-sided skillet, add enough oil to reach ½ inch up the sides of the skillet. Heat over medium until the oil registers 325°F on a deep-fry thermometer. Add the chicken, then reduce the heat to medium-low; cook, turning once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 25 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Remove toothpicks, if using. Serve immediately.

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