Original Coronation Chicken Recipe
The original coronation chicken recipe is a British dish that was created in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It typically consists of cold chicken in a creamy, mildly spiced sauce made with mayonnaise, yogurt, curry powder, and other seasonings such as lemon juice and apricot jam. The dish has a unique blend of savory, sweet, and slightly spicy flavors that complement the tender chicken meat. Coronation chicken is traditionally served as a sandwich filling, but can also be enjoyed as a salad or part of a buffet spread. It's a great make-ahead dish that can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- ½ cup full-fat mayonnaise
- ½ cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
- 1 spoonful of apricot jam or finely chopped dried apricots
- 1 teaspoon of tomato purée
- ⅕ cup slivered almonds, optionally toasted
- 1 ½ teaspoons mild curry powder
- 2 medium green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ lemon, juice only
- 1 pinch of sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a pan, add the chopped onion, bay leaf and curry leaves once it starts to shimmer and fry for about 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste, ⅕ cup water, lemon juice and lemon wedge and cook for about 3 more minutes.
- Now add a pinch of sugar and season with salt and pepper to taste, and leave to cool completely.
- Strain the sauce through a sieve into a large bowl and stir in the apricot marmalade, mayonnaise and Greek yoghurt for a creamy dressing and add the chopped chicken.
- Check the seasoning and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve.
Notes
- Chicken: Use cooked, boneless, and skinless chicken for this recipe. You can use leftover roasted or boiled chicken, or cook the chicken specifically for this recipe.
- Sauce: The sauce is the heart of this recipe. It's important to strike the right balance between the creamy base and the spices. You can adjust the amount of curry powder, lemon juice, and apricot jam according to your taste preferences.
- Mayonnaise: Use good quality mayonnaise to make the sauce. Homemade mayonnaise works great, but store-bought mayonnaise is also fine.
- Yogurt: To lighten the sauce and add a tangy flavor, use Greek yogurt or plain yogurt. You can also use sour cream or crème fraîche instead of yogurt.
- Curry powder: Use a good quality curry powder that is not too spicy. Mild or medium curry powder works best in this recipe.
- Serving: Coronation chicken is traditionally served as a sandwich filling, but you can also serve it as a salad or appetizer. It's a great make-ahead dish that can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- Garnish: To add some color and freshness, garnish the coronation chicken with chopped herbs, such as cilantro or parsley, and toasted slivered almonds.