Commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s historic Platinum Jubilee with this colorful chicken salad fit for a royal picnic or street party. A remix on classic Coronation Chicken, this quick recipe is a crowning twist on the original dish created for Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation festivities.
Overview
Legendary British cookbook author Mary Berry has several variations on creamy Coronation Chicken featuring curry, mayonnaise and apricot. This updated rendition streamlines Mary’s recipe for Jubilee celebrations. Canned chicken speeds up prep while Greek yogurt and spices add flavor. Vibrant additions like corn, grapes and pistachios give this chicken salad contemporary flair with crunch. Whip up this fast royal-inspired dish to enjoy at Jubilee gatherings all summer long.
History of Coronation Chicken
Coronation Chicken is a creamy, curry-spiced chicken salad that has become an iconic British dish closely tied to the country’s royal heritage. While early versions of curried chicken salads existed prior, Coronation Chicken was invented for a specific historic event that cemented its cultural importance. Beyond its regal origins, this dish represents broader themes of British identity and the country’s relationship with Indian cuisine.
The creation of Coronation Chicken directly traces back to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. Leading up to the ceremony and festivities on June 2nd, the chef for the coronation banquet, Constance Spry, was tasked with creating a new dish to mark the occasion. It needed to incorporate ingredients from around the British Commonwealth to symbolize solidarity and celebration of Queen Elizabeth as head of the Commonwealth realm.
Spry landed on a cold chicken dish seasoned with curry powder as an homage to India’s inclusion in the Commonwealth at the time. Curry was an exotic flavor for 1950s Britain. The dish was also conveniently easy to prepare for mass coronation celebrations. The combination of cold poached chicken, curry-spiced mayonnaise and apricot puree resulted in a refreshing, culturally symbolic salad now known as Coronation Chicken.
The dish was a hit at the coronation banquet and street parties. Given the limited availability of ingredients like fresh poultry in post-war Britain, canned chicken was soon substituted to meet demand. Versions of the dish proliferated, making it a mainstay of cookbooks, restaurants and households to this day.
Beyond its royal origins, Coronation Chicken reflects broader connections between Indian and British cultures through cuisine. Due to colonial ties and immigration, curry emerged as one of the most popular and ubiquitous dishes in the UK by the 20th century. Coronation Chicken paid homage by showcasing Indian spices applied to a thoroughly British idea of chicken salad.
The dish also demonstrates the exchange of food culture under colonialism and globalization. The British applied Indian spices and herbs to transform a classic European poached chicken dish. Later post-war immigration continued blending these culinary traditions and ingredients. This complex interplay and fusion is embodied in Coronation Chicken’s blend of origins.
While Coronation Chicken arose from a moment of colonialism, the dish and its flavors continue evolving. Its crowning by an Indian-origin chef for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 demonstrates the multicultural evolution of British cuisine. The dish mirrors how identities shift and blend over time through food.
Coronation Chicken has cemented itself as a symbol of celebration, royal commemoration, Commonwealth solidarity, and the rich interwoven food heritage of Britain. The stories and themes wrapped up in this curried salad have secured its significance beyond the coronation for which it was created. Seventy years after its invention, Coronation Chicken remains a distinctive culinary emblem of British culture.
Ingredients
– 2 (5oz) cans chicken, drained
– 1⁄2 cup plain Greek yogurt
– 1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
– 1 tablespoon curry powder
– 1 teaspoon honey
– 1⁄4 cup dried apricots, chopped
– 1⁄4 cup red grapes, halved
– 3 tablespoons pistachios, chopped
– 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, combine canned chicken, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, curry powder, honey, apricots, grapes, pistachios and parsley.
2. Fold ingredients together gently until evenly mixed. Season with salt and pepper.
3. For more texture, shred or chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
5. Serve chicken salad on sandwiches, lettuce cups, crackers or flatbreads.
6. Garnish with extra parsley and pistachios. Enjoy!
Mary Berry’s Coronation Chicken has been modernized with convenient canned chicken, creamy Greek yogurt and fresh additions like corn, grapes and nuts. This fast, flavorful twist on a royal classic is fit for Her Majesty and ideal for all your Jubilee celebrations. Cheerio!
