chicken Kiev

Chicken Kiev

Chicken Kiev (Ukrainian: Котлета по-київськи, kotleta po-kyivsky) is a popular dish of boneless chicken breast pounded and rolled around cold garlic butter with herbs, then breaded and either fried or baked.

Etymology

The dish has traditionally been considered Ukrainian in origin and the name of it comes from the name of the capital of Ukraine, Kiev.

However, the Russian food historian William Pokhlebkin claimed that Chicken Kiev was invented in the Moscow Merchants' Club in the early 20th century and was renamed Chicken Kiev (котлета по-киевски, kotleta po-kievsky, lit. 'cutlet Kiev-style') in one of the Soviet restaurants in later years.^[1]

In popular culture

• Chicken Kiev is the label used by William Safire for a speech made in Kiev in August 1991 by then U.S. President George H.W. Bush cautioning Ukrainians against "suicidal nationalism": "We will maintain the strongest possible relationship with the Soviet Government of President Gorbachev ... as a federation ourselves, we want good relations ... with the Republics ... Americans will not support those who seek independence in order to replace a far-off tyranny with a local despotism. They will not aid those who promote a suicidal nationalism based upon ethnical hatred." (H.W. Bush 1991)^[2] Three months later, Ukrainians voted to withdraw from the Soviet Union.^[3]
• Chicken Kiev, introduced in Britain in 1976, was Marks & Spencer's first ready-made meal.^[4][5]

Similar dishes

There are other dishes similar to Chicken Kiev. Particularly popular is Chicken Cordon Bleu with a cheese and ham filling instead of butter.

See also

• Chicken nugget
• Kiev cake

Notes

References

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Chicken Kiev speech

• "Chicken Kiev Recipe". Retro Food Recipes. 1978. http://www.retrofoodrecipes.com/chicken_kiev.html. 
• Marcus Warren (2001-06-19). "Email from Ukraine". Electronic Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/1379468/Email-from-Ukraine.html.