Chicken Kiev balls with tarragon-garlic butter

Step 1

1 For garlic butter, beat ingredients in a bowl to combine and season. Place 16 half-teaspoonfuls of garlic butter on a tray lined with baking paper and place in freezer until firm (8-10 minutes). Set remaining garlic butter aside.

Step 2

2 Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add onion and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent (3-4 minutes). Set aside to cool, then combine in a bowl with chicken, yolk, tarragon, lemon rind and 80gm breadcrumbs. Season generously to taste, then roll into 16 balls with wet hands. Press a piece of firm garlic butter into the centre of each, roll mixture around it to enclose and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 3

3 Lightly whisk eggs in a bowl with 1 tbsp water, place seasoned flour in a separate bowl and combine remaining breadcrumbs in a tray with parsley and season to taste. Dip balls first in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture, shaking off excess in between, then place on a tray lined with baking paper, cover and refrigerate until required.

Step 4

4 Heat oil in a deep saucepan to 170C. Deep-fry balls in batches, turning occasionally, until cooked through (4-5 minutes; be careful, hot oil will spit). Drain on paper towels and season to taste.

Step 5

5 Melt remaining garlic butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Scatter chicken Kiev balls with extra herbs and serve with melted garlic butter.