Chicken Kiev
★★★☆☆
Ingredients
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each), lightly pounded to an even thickness
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
- All-purpose flour, for dusting
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs, crushed
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for frying
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 large bunch of arugula, stemmed
Instructions
- 1. Gather the ingredients.
- 2. Carefully slice a pocket into the side of each chicken breast and season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, blend the butter with the dill and chives and season with salt and pepper. Spoon half of the herb butter into the pockets and pinch closed.
- 3. Dredge the chicken in flour, tapping off the excess.
- 4. Put the eggs and breadcrumbs in two separate shallow bowls and season with salt and pepper. Dip the chicken in the eggs and then in the breadcrumbs, sealing the pockets; dab any open spots with egg and sprinkle with breadcrumbs to seal.
- 5. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and freeze for 5 minutes.
- 6. In a large skillet, heat ½ inch olive oil until shimmering. Add the chicken and fry over moderate heat, turning once or twice, until golden and cooked through, about 8 minutes.
- 7. In a large bowl, whisk the 2 tablespoons olive oil with the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Add the arugula and toss. Transfer the chicken to plates and top with the remaining herb butter. Serve the arugula salad alongside.
This simplified version of chicken Kiev eliminates the traditional pounding and rolling technique in favor of creating pockets in the chicken breast. The 5-minute freeze helps seal the breading and prevent butter leakage during frying. Originally published May 2013.
Wine Pairing: Medium White