Mary Berry Chicken Kiev Food

CHICKEN KIEV

Steps:

• Prep time: 30 minutes plus chilling. Cook time: 18 minutes. 1. In a bowl, beat the butter, garlic and parsley together until evenly combined. Season with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Transfer to a sheet of clingfilm and roll into a sausage shape, then place in the freezer for 15 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, butterfly each chicken breast: place on a chopping board and use a sharp knife to slice into the thicker side; holding the knife parallel to the board, slice across the breast horizontally, taking care not to cut all the way through, until you can open it out like a book. Then place each chicken breast between two sheets of clingfilm and bash with a rolling pin until completely flattened, taking care not to tear the chicken or create any holes. 3. Unwrap and divide the frozen butter into four pieces. Place one on each chicken breast, then wrap the flesh around the butter to fully enclose it. If you like, mix a little flour with water to create a paste to help stick the chicken in place. Place the chicken in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up. 4. Preheat the oven to 200˚C/180˚C fan/gas 6. 5. Put the flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Carefully coat the chicken breasts first in the flour, then in the beaten egg and finally in the breadcrumbs. 6. Fill a large deep pan with oil to a depth of 2cm (¾in) and place over a medium-high heat. Test the oil is hot enough by dropping in a small piece of bread: it should brown in 50 seconds. Place the chicken into the pan, seam side down, and fry for 6 minutes, turning now and again, until it is golden and crisp all over. 7. Put the chicken into a roasting in. Bake for 12 minutes or until cooked through. Serve immediately, with mash and green veg.

CHICKEN KIEVS

Steps:

• Place all the garlic butter ingredients in a bowl and season well. Mash with a fork until well combined, shape into two sausages using cling film to help you shape it, then tightly wrap and chill or freeze until really firm. Can be made up to three days in advance. When firm, slice each into eight even pieces.
• Lay a chicken breast on a chopping board and use a sharp knife to make a deep pocket inside the breast. The easiest way is to push the point of a knife into the fat end, keep going halfway into the fillet. Be careful not to cut all the way through or the butter will leak out when cooking. Repeat with the remaining breasts. Push two discs of butter inside each chicken breast, press to flatten and re-seal with your hands. Set aside.
• Mix the breadcrumbs and parmesan on one plate, and tip the eggs onto another. On a third plate, mix the flour with paprika and some salt. Dip each breast in the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs, repeating so each kiev has a double coating (this will make them extra crisp and help to keep the butter inside). Chill for at least 1 hr before cooking, or freeze now - see tips, below.
• To cook, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the kievs for 2-3 mins each side until golden - you may need to do this in batches. Transfer to a baking tray and cook for 20-25 mins until cooked through.
• Place all the garlic butter ingredients in a bowl and season well. Mash with a fork until well combined, shape into two sausages using cling film to help you shape it, then tightly wrap and chill or freeze until really firm. Can be made up to three days in advance. When firm, slice each into eight even pieces.
• Lay a chicken breast on a chopping board and use a sharp knife to make a deep pocket inside the breast. The easiest way is to push the point of a knife into the fat end, keep going halfway into the fillet. Be careful not to cut all the way through or the butter will leak out when cooking. Repeat with the remaining breasts. Push two discs of butter inside each chicken breast, press to flatten and re-seal with your hands. Set aside.
• Mix the breadcrumbs and parmesan on one plate, and tip the eggs onto another. On a third plate, mix the flour with paprika and some salt. Dip each breast in the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs, repeating so each kiev has a double coating (this will make them extra crisp and help to keep the butter inside). Chill for at least 1 hr before cooking, or freeze now - see tips, below.
• To cook, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the kievs for 2-3 mins each side until golden - you may need to do this in batches. Transfer to a baking tray and cook for 20-25 mins until cooked through.

ULTIMATE CHICKEN KIEVS

Steps:

• To brine the chicken, whisk the salt into 1 litre of cold water in a large bowl until the salt has totally dissolved, then add the herbs, garlic and the chicken. Cover and put in the fridge for at least 5 hrs (up to 24 hrs is fine).
• Meanwhile, to make the butter, crush the garlic with a little salt, using the side of your knife to form a paste, then mix it into the softened butter with the herbs and lemon zest. Using a layer of cling film, roll the butter into a sausage shape and put in the fridge or freezer for at least 1 hr to firm up. This can be done up to two days ahead.
• Remove the chicken from the brine but don't rinse it, and instead pat dry. Using a sharp knife, make a small horizontal incision in the fattest part of each breast. Using your fingers, open up the incision to form a decent-sized cavity without cutting all the way through. Divide the butter mixture between the breasts and stuff it inside, leaving the chicken nice and plump, without any butter on show.
• To make the coating, put the flour, eggs and panko crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip the chicken in the flour first, then in the egg and finally in the breadcrumbs. Repeat the egg and crumb process again so the chicken has a thick coating. This can be done the day before and kept in the fridge.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Place a heavy frying pan on a medium to high heat. Add a generous layer of vegetable oil and fry the kievs individually until golden all over, working in batches if you need to. Place on a rack with a baking tray underneath and bake in the oven for 25 mins until deep golden and cooked through. Serve with sweet braised lettuce and peas.