Russian-Style Chicken Cutlets

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  slices  good-quality  white bread, crusts removed
• 1⁄4 cup half-and-half
• 1  lb ground chicken
• 1  egg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried dill
• 5  tablespoons butter, 3 of them at room temperature
• 1  cup  dry breadcrumbs
• 2  tablespoons  cooking oil

Directions

1. Break the bread into pieces.
2. In a large bowl, soak the bread in the half-and-half until the liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes.
3. Mix in the chicken, egg, salt, pepper, dill and the 3 tablespoons room-temperature butter.
4. Put in the freezer for about 10 minutes to firm up.
5. Remover the chicken mixture from the freezer; it will still be very soft.
6. Form the mixture into four oval cutlets and coat them with the bread crumbs.
7. In a large nonstick frying pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the oil over moderate heat.
8. Cook the cutlets until golden brown and just done, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
9. Variation for Italian-Style Chicken Cutlets: Omit the dill.
10. Use half bread crumbs, half grated Parmesan cheese to coat the cutlets.