Coronation Chicken Is Creamy Curried Chicken Salad Goals

Britain’s first coronation in 70 years takes place on Saturday, May 6, and what better way to celebrate than with a classic British dish? Coronation Chicken is not only fancy to say, but it has a tasty and versatile filling, with simple ingredients—NO cooking involved—and it comes together in about five minutes. 

Intrigued? Read on for the history of coronation chicken, plus the best recipe, tips and tricks you need to perfect this royal sandwich and welcome spring in the fanciest way possible.

Related: 20 Surprising Facts About Queen Elizabeth II

Who invented coronation chicken?

Coronation chicken was first created by Le Cordon Bleu London in 1953, to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It was initially called “Poulet Reine Elizabeth,” and was served with rice, green peas and pimentos. At the time, because of post-war rationing, the ingredients used were only just becoming available. Le Cordon Bleu took a chance by pushing flavor boundaries on that particular Tuesday, serving this dish up to so many people who may have had different flavor preferences. Luckily it worked, as it’s creamy, mild in spice, and an all-around pleasing dish that’s still popular today! This is why it will be served on Coronation Day for King Charles III—people in England love their poulet.

Related: 16 Proper British Snacks You 100% Need for Your Coronation Watch Party This Weekend

What is coronation chicken?

The original recipe called for cooking chicken in water and a little wine to cover, a bouquet garni (which is a fancy term for a bundle of fresh herbs; traditionally parsley, thyme and bay leaf), salt, peppercorns and a curry cream sauce. 

What to serve with coronation chicken?

It’s usually served over rice, lettuce, or as a sandwich filling, the recipe has been reincarnated over the decades, with new versions being created by food writers and restaurants alike.

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What does the coronation chicken sandwich taste like?

I am not a chicken salad aficionado. In fact, I despise mayonnaise (full disclosure—I used vegan mayo from Trader Joe’s in my recipe because it just made me feel better). But cooking is a full sensory experience, and it is also an opportunity to push boundaries—so, much like Le Cordon Bleu, I went with it…and was pleasantly surprised. 

The yogurt and mayo are a cool, creamy blanket on the diced chicken, the sliced almonds and fresh lettuce provide a satisfying crunch, and the addition of mango chutney and plump, golden raisins add a slight sweetness that balanced so well with the complex curry flavor. If you like a bit more heat, add in a hot curry powder. I was already testing my limits, so I went with a medium-level curry. Green onion and a bit of cilantro add a pop of spring-like freshness to the dish. I could definitely see this being a good topping on a green salad, with rice, or on a baked potato.

Related: King Charles Spotify Coronation Playlist

Coronation chicken recipe

The recipe I followed is from Chris Collins, an award-winning food blogger and Netflix Crazy Delicious finalist. His recipe is simple and super flavorful. I was able to grab most of the ingredients from Trader Joe’s (which means that you’ll be able to find everything at a bigger grocery store for sure).

Ingredients:

• 2 packed cups of cooked chicken, diced into cubes
• 1/2 cup full-fat mayo
• 1/2 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup mango chutney
• 1/4 cup sultanas
• 1/4 cup flaked almonds, optionally toasted
• 1 1/2 Tbsp mild curry powder 
• 2 medium-sized green onions, finely diced
• 1 Tbsp finely diced cilantro
• 1/2 lemon, juice only
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine mayo, yogurt, mango chutney, curry powder, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. 
2. Place to one side. In a large mixing bowl, add diced chicken, almonds, green onion, cilantro and sultanas. 
3. Pour in the sauce and combine until everything’s evenly distributed. 
4. Serve in a baguette, pita, wrap, sandwich, baked potato or a leafy salad. 

Tips for making coronation chicken even better:

• For this recipe, Collins suggests sultanas, which are golden raisins. Sultanas are usually a bit smaller than your typical dark raisin and are a bit sweeter and juicer. If you can’t find golden raisins, you can substitute them for regular raisins. 
• As previously stated, I used vegan mayo but I’m sure a good old jar of Hellman’s would be perfect for this recipe. 
• Toasting the almonds really brings out the flavor, too, so take two minutes to do that step; it’ll be worth it. 
• Trader Joe’s discontinued their mango and ginger chutney (but rumor has it, another version will be on store shelves soon), so I stopped in at my local Indian restaurant and bought a side of the mango chutney—the little tub was the perfect amount for this recipe and I know it was made fresh. 
• Finally, buying solid, good-quality bread such as brioche, sourdough or a crusty roll to put this on instead of basic white bread will also elevate your sandwich royally so you can truly celebrate Coronation Day in style.

Next: Prince Harry Reveals Whether He Will Attend King Charles’ Coronation

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