Here’s A Classic Sicheniki Recipe For You!
If you want to indulge in a hearty Ukrainian recipe, Sicheniki are definitely something to try.
Made from fresh chicken breast, a dash of flour, egg, and a handful of spices, these meat patties are fried until golden brown, creating a delicious filling dish.
Eaten as the meat component of your meal, the sicheniki can be garnished with chopped fresh scallions or herbs and served with your favorite dipping sauce!
As with many recipes, there are different versions of sicheniki, sometimes also spelled sichenyky.
While some versions are made with fish, in this recipe we’ll be using fresh chicken breasts. Sometimes sicheniki are breaded and then fried, but we’ll keep it simple without breading the patties.
Ingredients
If you want to make this sicheniki recipe, here are the ingredients that you will need. It’s fairly simple when you really consider what goes into making them.
- Chicken Breasts – You’ll need two boneless, skinless chicken breasts; alternatively use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Yellow onion – To add depth of flavor.
- Garlic cloves – To add more flavor.
- Oil – For frying the sicheniki.
- Coriander – To add flavor.
- Salt – To add flavor.
- White pepper – To add flavor.
- All-purpose flour – To bind the ingredients.
- Egg – To help the sicheniki keep their shape.
- Sour cream – To make the sicheniki moist; alternatively use mayonnaise.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
Before you dive into making these sicheniki, have a read through these recipe tips so that you know just what to expect!
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. The higher fat content in the meat will make the sicheniki juicier.
- Cut the chicken into small, even pieces so that it cooks evenly.
- Instead of sour cream, you can add mayonnaise, which will make them fattier, but also juicier.
- The patties should be of similar size so that they cook evenly.
- Instead of frying them, you can also place the sicheniki on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them in the oven.
- Alternatively, you can also cook the sicheniki in an air fryer. Spray the basket with a little oil spray beforehand.
- You can freeze the raw sicheniki and then fry or bake them as needed.
How to Make Sicheniki – Step by Step Instructions
In this section, we’ll show you exactly how to make these Ukrainian sicheniki. All the recipe process photos are included so you can compare as you cook at home.
The recipe card with ingredients and steps (but no photos) is located at the bottom of this post!
Cut the chicken breasts into small pieces. The cubes should be about 1/3 inch thick. Transfer them to a deep bowl.
To the bowl, add finely chopped onion and minced garlic.
Now add the salt, coriander, white pepper, and the egg.
Next, add the flour and the sour cream.
Using a spoon, mix thoroughly until the chicken pieces are evenly coated.
Heat the oil in a frying pan. Drop small oval patties into the pan and fry over medium heat for 4 minutes on one side.
Using a spatula, gently flip the sicheniki to the other side. Cover the pan with a lid and fry for another 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked through.
Transfer the golden-brown sicheniki to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Fry the rest of the chicken patties.
Serve the sicheniki hot or warm, sprinkled with chopped fresh herbs or green onion.
These meat patties can also be served with different sauces and dips, including ketchup, mustard, cheese sauce, or BBQ sauce.
Storage Tips
Once made, sicheniki are best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the pan. Any leftovers can be stored in a sealed container or wrapped in foil and placed in the fridge.
Properly stored, they will keep for 3-4 days.
To reheat them and revive a bit of the outer crispness, you can air fry or pan fry them on low heat. The microwave will also work – but they won’t be crispy any more.
Related Recipes
If you liked these sicheniki, here are some other awesome Ukrainian recipes that you should try:
- Borscht (Classic Soup)
- Varenyky (Filled Dumplings)
- Banosh (Corn Porridge)
- Ukrainian Cabbage Rolls
- Deruny (Potato Pancakes)
- Kruchenyky (Meat Rolls with Mushrooms)
Sicheniki (Ukrainian Chicken Patties)
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons frying oil
- 1/4 teaspoon coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into small pieces, about 1/3 inch thick. Place in a deep bowl.2 chicken breasts
- Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic.1 yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
- Add salt, coriander, white pepper, and an egg.1/4 teaspoon coriander, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon white pepper, 1 egg
- Add flour and sour cream.3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons sour cream
- Using a spoon, mix thoroughly until the chicken pieces are evenly coated.
- Heat the frying oil in a frying pan. Spoon small oval patties into the pan and fry over medium heat for 4 minutes on one side.3 tablespoons frying oil
- With a spatula, gently flip the sicheniki to the other side. Cover the pan with a lid and fry for another 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Transfer the finished sicheniki to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Fry the rest of the chicken patties (if applicable).
- Serve the sicheniki hot or warm, sprinkled with chopped fresh herbs or scallions.
Notes
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. The higher fat content in the meat will make the sicheniki juicier.
- Cut the chicken into small, even pieces so that it cooks evenly.
- Instead of sour cream, you can add mayonnaise, which will make them fattier, but also juicier.
- The patties should be of similar size so that they cook evenly.
- Instead of frying them, you can also place the sicheniki on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them in the oven.
- You can also cook the sicheniki in an air fryer. Spray the basket with a little oil spray beforehand.
- You can freeze the raw sicheniki and then fry or bake them as needed.
- You can serve the sicheniki with different sauces and dips, including ketchup, mustard, cheese sauce, or BBQ sauce.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
