CHICKEN KIEV

Serves 4

Chicken Kiev is a classic for good reason — crisp, crunchy breadcrumbs surrounding a juicy chicken breast enclosing a pocket of melted garlic butter. This version has the added bonus of lemon and Parmesan cheese, too. A firm family favourite.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts, skin removed

2 garlic cloves, crushed with a pinch of salt

4 tablespoons chopped parsley

75g (3oz) butter

40g (1½oz) Parmesan cheese, grated

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1 egg, beaten

3 tablespoons plain flour

120g (4oz) breadcrumbs

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For frying:

25g (1oz) butter

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

To serve: leafy salad or seasonal vegetables

Method

1 Pierce the thick end of the breasts with a thin sharp knife. Push the blade of the knife down to near the thin end of the breast, being careful not to cut right through the flesh. Sweep the blade from side to side to make the pocket wider on the inside but keeping the incision small. This will help to stop the lovely garlic butter leaking out. Set aside.

2 Add the garlic, parsley, butter and grated Parmesan to the lemon juice and mix well to combine. Divide the flavoured butter into four and stuff one piece into the pocket of each chicken breast, pushing it well down inside.

3 Put the beaten egg in a low, wide dish. Mix a good pinch of salt and pepper into the flour and place in a similar dish, then add the lemon zest to the breadcrumbs and place in a third dish.

4 Toss the breasts one at a time into first the flour, then the eggs and lastly the breadcrumbs, making sure they are thoroughly coated at each stage. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, Gas 6.

5 To fry the chicken, put the butter and olive oil into an ovenproof frying pan and heat until foaming. Add the four breasts to the pan and fry on one side until golden brown, then turn them over and pop the pan into the oven for 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts.

6 When the chicken breasts are cooked through and golden all over, serve with a leafy salad or seasonal vegetables.