When I see the daily horrors in Ukraine, I am at a loss for words. So many lives have been lost to war already when, honestly, one life lost is too many. Families are fleeing, and are being separated. Cultural and natural beauty is being destroyed. Yet I am inspired by the strength and resilience shown by the people of Ukraine. There is such power in their unity.
So I ask, what can we do? There are many worthy organizations helping. Check out this list compiled by the Obama Foundation. Jose Andrés has started the World Central Kitchen to help keep food on the tables of our Ukrainian sisters and brothers. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is another organization helping families in Ukraine. And some are putting money directly into the hands of those who need it by paying for an Airbnb there, with no intention of going.
As a professional fundraiser, I know that every gift — no matter its size — makes a difference. Think of how powerful crowdfunding has been in this last decade. If you can afford $10, that’s great. By giving up your coffeehouse daily brew, can you give $25? So much the better. Still working from home? Donate the weekly gas money you didn’t use. Get your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews to pitch in by making a family gift. Whatever you do, don’t just ask, “What can I do?” You can do a lot.
Today, in support of Ukraine, I’m making a dish iconic to the capital city, Kyiv (formerly transliterated as Kiev). You don’t see it on menus often these days, but it is worth making. I created this recipe using classic Ukrainian herbs: dill, chives, and parsley. It is reminiscent of the Chicken Kyiv I had many decades ago in New York City.
~ David
Chicken Kyiv
Click icon below to print recipe.
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill (see note below)
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper, plus extra
- 4 chicken breast halves (6-8 ounces each), skinless and boneless
- 1/4 cup flour, more as needed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- neutral oil, for frying
Instructions
- Mix the softened butter with the herbs and 1/2 teaspoon each kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper. Divide the mixture evenly into 4 thick oval discs or logs. Wrap them in plastic wrap, and freeze for at least 2 to 3 hours.
- If the chicken breasts still have their tenders attached, remove them and reserve for another use. Pound chicken breast pieces between two pieces of waxed paper until about 1/4-inch thick. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper, then place skinned side down on a cutting board. Place a frozen piece of butter in the center of each chicken breast, then roll up as you would a burrito; starting at the short end, fold the chicken over the butter, then fold in the two long sides, then roll tightly until completed. It may help to secure the chicken with a toothpick after you finish rolling.
- Dredge each stuffed chicken breast in flour, then in the beaten egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs. Make sure it is well coated with breadcrumbs. Wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, and put in the freezer for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Pour about 1/2 inch of oil into a deep skillet and heat to 375°F. If you do not have a thermometer, you can test the temperature by putting in a small cube of bread. If it immediately sizzles and begins to turn golden quickly, your oil is hot enough. Fry the chicken pieces turning them often until golden brown. Place them on a cooking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken pieces.
- Remove from the oven and serve with sauréed peas and lettuce, or a lightly-dressed green salad.
- Serves 4.
- Notes: if you don’t like dill, you can use other herbs such as tarragon, chervil, and thyme – or a combination.
© 2024 Copyright Cocoa & Lavender
Connie
March 12, 2022 at 6:51 amDavid, thank you for your wonderful message (as well as recipe) in your blog today. I will use your link to help Chef Andres help people, who through no fault of their own or a natural disaster, are in such a terrible situation.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:30 pmThank you so much, Connie. It was the first place I made a donation, too. Feeding people is such an act of love.
Susan Manfull
March 12, 2022 at 7:32 amA beautiful post, David. Let’s keep the Ukrainians in our hearts and help in any way we can. We are doing just that, too.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:31 pmThey are in my hearts and thoughts each day. I’m glad Jeff posted about Jose Andrès, too. Such a great organization.
Susan Beesemyer
March 12, 2022 at 8:25 amMake no mistake, we are at war with Russia and all enemies of Democracy.
We cannot send planes or troops, but at least we can feed those poor people under attack.
Thank you, David.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:32 pmThanks, Susan. That is exactly how I feel. How did we get here?
Gerlinde
March 12, 2022 at 8:40 amWhat a great post, this is a horrible war and I can just imagine the pain and suffering. My brother and nephew in Germany are taking in refugees from the Ukraine.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:32 pmHow wonderful that your family is there doing their part. What wonderful people they must be!
John / Kitchen Riffs
March 12, 2022 at 8:51 amGreat post. Great dish, too. I’ve been thinking of making this again — I bet I haven’t made it, or had it in a restaurant, since the 1980s — so I’m glad you presented us with your wonderful version. Really good job, although the reasons for your inspiration are so, so sad. Humans can be awful to each other.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:33 pmI can assure you that the last time I has it was the 1980s … if not the 1970s! But it was worth bringing back to remind people that we need to care for one another.
Fran @ G'day Souffle
March 12, 2022 at 9:02 amThis is a real recipe from the past but definitely deserves being ‘brought out again’, especially for a good cause. It’s frustrating watching this war on TV- makes me want to yell out, “Someone please do something to stop the bombing!” But not sure responding militarily is the right answer (for the US)- I suppose a lot of people are pondering the same question.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:34 pmI know what you mean, Fran. Sometimes I scream so hard at the television (radio/newspaper) that I cannot imagine they can’t hear me.
Arden
March 12, 2022 at 11:34 amAmazing, I can’t wait to try it. Do you think it will work with gluten free flour?
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:35 pmHave you ever had it? It’s quite wonderful. I know that there are good GF breadcrumbs out there and I am sure GF flour would work for the first coat. Maybe even potato flour?
2pots2cook
March 12, 2022 at 12:13 pmSlava Ukraini! Slava Ukrainskome narodu !
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:36 pmI couldn’t have said it better, Davorka. Thanks.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
March 12, 2022 at 2:17 pmThis war is atrocious and heart breaking. If only the world’s people could sit down and make peace over a meal like this.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:38 pmHonestly, Karen, I have often thought that diplomacy should always be conducted at the dinner table. It is there that we forget about our differences and remember our commonalities. But, alas, this world is not that world.
Eha
March 12, 2022 at 3:11 pmA wonderful post David ! You have brought both a smile to my face and a tear into my eyes ! Yes, every penny raised counts . . . I belong to the Obama Foundation and so agree with your suggestion – I have also belonged to UNICEF since my teenage years and have added that to my own endeavours. And ‘great minds think alike’ all over the world – my huge supermarket chain this week changed the name of all of its Chicken Kiev’ products to ‘Kyiv’ 🙂 ! One oft curses the ease and speed all news travels the world these days – here I feel it is a blessing – during the six years of my war refugee childhood most people knew but little to try and help – and there was no United Nations, NATO, EU or the like . . . at least at the moment from each firm and agency to each child emptying his/her piggybank – we can all try and help just a little . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
March 12, 2022 at 3:41 pmYou, having been there, know this better than us all. I remember trick-or-treating for UNICEF when I was young. I didn’t understand it as a child — I wish I had known more. I think even our children need to know how and why we take care of our brothers and sisters around the World. Every little bit — every penny from the piggybank — helps in heart and deed.
Frank @Memorie di Angelina
March 15, 2022 at 5:32 amThanks for those links, David. Like many of us, I think, it’s easy to feel rather helpless in the face of something as atrocious and heart-breaking as what’s happening in Ukraine right now. Good to know there’s something we can do to help.
And the Chicken Kyiv? Well, you know, it’s a dish I’ve been meaning to try for years and never quite got around to it. Plus I’m honestly a bit intimidated by the recipe, always worried my little bundles will fall apart or the butter would ooze out of them… Yours look done to absolute perfection. Bravo!
Cocoa & Lavender
March 19, 2022 at 4:53 amIt seems like such an American copout to merely go to a website and give money, but I do think there are limits to what we can do. And helping those who need it right now through donations makes the most sense to me.
I made my first chicken Kyiv when I was probably 21 or 22 years old — it was rather a daunting undertaking for a pretty naive cook! But that never stopped me! Now that I’ve made it three times for this post, several my friends have requested it for dinner. Go figure!
sippitysup
March 16, 2022 at 11:31 amWell said. GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
March 19, 2022 at 4:51 amThanks, Greg.
Raymund
March 17, 2022 at 6:22 pmLook at that delcious oozing butter.
Great post David, war sucks, no one really wins when this happens, there will be always death involved on both sides.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 19, 2022 at 4:51 am“No one wins” is the quote of the year, Raymund.
John
March 19, 2022 at 3:54 pmIt’s such an atrocity and so difficult to watch. I couldn’t even imagine what it must be like for the Ukrainian people.
Thank you, David, for taking me back to my days at cooking college where I learned how to make my first ever Chicken Kyiv.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 20, 2022 at 6:55 amI hope I did the dish justice, John. I keep praying each day that something will happen to turn the tide…
Valentina
March 22, 2022 at 12:20 pmSuch a meaningful post, David. Thank you for providing all of these suggestions of where we can help and donate. I think World Central Kitchen is such an amazing organization. Love them.
(And of course the Chicken Kyiv recipe sounds amazing.) ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
March 24, 2022 at 11:18 amThanks, Valentina… we all need to figure out what we can do. I hate feeling helpless.
Inger
April 3, 2022 at 7:28 pmOne of my favorites, David, though I’ve never made it. Yes, the situation in Ukraine is so terrible. My CSF is donating the profits from a special fish sale going on now to the World Central Kitchen. Well, it’s at least heartening to see all the ways in which people are stepping up. (And it was, of course, the perfect excuse to buy more seafood.)
Jeff the Chef
April 10, 2022 at 8:29 amThanks for those links, and thanks for ressurecting this dish!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 17, 2022 at 2:01 pmI never understand why dishes like this disappear, Jeff. I know there’s fashion in food, as well as with everything else…, but when there’s good fashion it should always remain.