Main Course · Dinner · Eastern European ·

Russian Kurnik Pie with Chicken and Rice

Name: Russian Kurnik Pie with Chicken and Rice
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, 2 ½ cups; Unsalted butter, 1 cup — chilled and cubed; Sour cream, ½ cup; White vinegar, 1 tbsp; Egg yolk, 1 — for brushing; Cooked chicken, 2 cups — shredded; Onion, 1 — finely chopped; Salt and pepper, To taste; Jasmine rice, 1 cup — cooked; Parsley, 2 tbsp — chopped; Butter, 1 tsp; Mushrooms, 1 cup — sliced; Olive oil, 1 tbsp; Salt and pepper, To taste

Russian Kurnik Pie, also known as "Tsar's Pie," is a traditional dish that layers savory fillings like chicken, rice, and mushrooms wrapped in a golden, flaky pastry.

4.7(986 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 9, 2025

Russian Kurnik Pie with Chicken and Rice — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h

Cook

3 h

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Pastry

Chicken Filling

Rice Filling

Mushroom Filling

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 648 kcal
Protein: 18.17 g
Carbs: 50.67 g
Fat: 40.83 g
Fiber: 2.17 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3885 kcal
Protein: 109 g
Carbs: 304 g
Fat: 245 g
Fiber: 13 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
All-purpose flour 2 ½ cups	1140	30	240	3	9
Unsalted butter 1 cup — chilled and cubed	1628	2	0	184	0
Sour cream ½ cup	240	3	6	23	0
White vinegar 1 tbsp	3	0	0	0	0
Egg yolk 1 — for brushing	55	3	1	5	0
Cooked chicken 2 cups — shredded	400	64	0	12	0
Onion 1 — finely chopped	44	1	10	0	2
Salt and pepper To taste	0	0	0	0	0
Jasmine rice 1 cup — cooked	205	4	45	0	1
Parsley 2 tbsp — chopped	2	0	0	0	0
Butter 1 tsp	34	0	0	4	0
Mushrooms 1 cup — sliced	15	2	2	0	1
Olive oil 1 tbsp	119	0	0	14	0
Salt and pepper To taste	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Pastry

1
Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, combine flour and butter. Use a pastry cutter or fork to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Tip: Ensure your butter is very cold before making the pastry.
2
Form the dough
Add sour cream and vinegar, mixing gently until a dough forms. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
Tip: Use parchment paper to roll out the dough for easier handling.

Preparing the Fillings

1
Prepare chicken filling
Sauté onions until translucent, then mix with shredded chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
Tip: Ensure all filling components are at room temperature before assembly.
2
Prepare rice filling
Combine cooked rice with parsley and a teaspoon of butter, stirring to blend.
3
Prepare mushroom filling
Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté mushrooms until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper.

How to Make Russian Kurnik Pie with Chicken and Rice

Total time: 4 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Assemble the pie
Roll out half the dough to line a greased pie dish. Layer rice filling, chicken filling, and top with mushroom filling. Cover with remaining rolled-out dough and seal edges.
2
Decorate the pie
Use extra dough to create decorative motifs and securely place on top of the pie. Brush with beaten egg yolk.
3
Bake the pie
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the kurnik for about 45-50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.