Perfect coronation chicken
- Prepare
- less than 30 mins
- Cook
- 10 to 30 mins
- Serve
- Serves 4
- Dietary
- Gluten-free
Step back into 1952 and showcase the classic coronation chicken salad for a delicious nostalgic lunch. This is not a bashed-together mayo and mango chutney affair, this is the real deal and fit for a queen.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, skin removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 unwaxed lemon, zest and juice only
- knob of butter
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
- 2 tsp madras curry powder
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 100ml/3½fl oz dry white wine
- 100ml/3½fl oz chicken stock (gluten free, if needed)
- 1 tbsp apricot jam
- 150ml/5fl oz mayonnaise
- 75ml/3fl oz crème fraîche
- 1 large mango, peeled, stone removed, flesh chopped
- 4 spring onions, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander
- dash Tabasco sauce
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
To serve (optional)
- green salad leaves
- 50g/2oz flaked almonds (toasted lightly in a dry frying pan)
Method
Rub the olive oil all over the chicken. Scatter over the lemon zest and season with salt and pepper.
Steam the chicken for 20–25 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside to cool.
Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the shallot and chilli and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the curry powder and cook for 2–3 minutes. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for a further minute. Add the wine and simmer until the volume of the liquid has reduced by half.
Stir in the jam and stock, and simmer until the volume of the liquid has reduced by half. Set aside to cool.
Mix the mayonnaise and the crème fraîche together in a bowl, then stir in the curry dressing. Fold in the mango, spring onions, lemon juice and coriander.
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Fold into the curry dressing and season with salt, pepper and Tabasco to taste.
Serve with a green salad, and scatter with the toasted almond flakes (if using).
Recipe tips
This coronation chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. It's not suitable for freezing.
Substitute the wine for more chicken stock if you prefer to avoid alcohol.
If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, make sure the chicken stock you use doesn't contain gluten (many do, but gluten-free stock is easy to find).
Coronation chicken is great served as a salad topper and it's particularly nice alongside a rice salad. It can also be used in sandwiches or as a filling for jacket potatoes.
