OP
eclecticsynergy
Ambassador of Electric Synergy
Coronation Chicken - a British classic - is a curried, slightly sweet chicken salad. It was created for Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, and remains ubiquitous in the UK. I imagine it's especially popular today of all days, although King Charles' official coronation dish is said to be a slightly odd quiche.
Coronation Chicken was ogirinally conceived as an alternative to the rich, heavy foods typically featured at royal banquets - in the 50s, any departure from the norm in royal matters was considered quite radical. The dish has evolved over the years and most of the modern versions use sultanas (golden raisins) in place of the original dried apricots, and yogurt in place of the original whipped cream.
Here are links to a slightly tweaked version of the original recipe and a tasty modern variant.
Have been making my own take on this flavor combination for decades, and it was my go-to for many years as a bring-along dish for munches and other pot-luck type gatherings. Never made the association with Coronation Chicken, but fundamentally they're quite similar.
Mine is a curried chicken salad with chopped apple, dried cranberries, fresh gound pepper, and dried onion powder - adds a nice toasted-onion flavor like onion soup mix (only without the beef bouillon and ton of extra salt). Plus a pinch of chipotle powder when I'm not making it for a crowd. Often use rotisserie chicken, convenient and nicely flavored. I use plenty of finely chopped celery: nearly as much celery by volume as meat.
I do the same proportion when making tuna salad: pretty much equal parts tuna and finely chopped celery. I season mine with dill weed and dried onion powder. Usually a shake of Spike seasoning. I'll add a pinch of chipotle powder here too, when it's just for me.
Don't know whether I've shared it here already, but another favorite in my family is curried egg salad with chopped pimiento-stuffed olives. Wonderful sandwich on a Summer's day.
EDIT: When making any mayonnaise-based salad, it helps to season the mayo by itself in the bowl first. This way the flavor is evenly distributed without having to fold the final salad so thoroughly that the texture gets too smooth.
Coronation Chicken was ogirinally conceived as an alternative to the rich, heavy foods typically featured at royal banquets - in the 50s, any departure from the norm in royal matters was considered quite radical. The dish has evolved over the years and most of the modern versions use sultanas (golden raisins) in place of the original dried apricots, and yogurt in place of the original whipped cream.
Here are links to a slightly tweaked version of the original recipe and a tasty modern variant.
Have been making my own take on this flavor combination for decades, and it was my go-to for many years as a bring-along dish for munches and other pot-luck type gatherings. Never made the association with Coronation Chicken, but fundamentally they're quite similar.
Mine is a curried chicken salad with chopped apple, dried cranberries, fresh gound pepper, and dried onion powder - adds a nice toasted-onion flavor like onion soup mix (only without the beef bouillon and ton of extra salt). Plus a pinch of chipotle powder when I'm not making it for a crowd. Often use rotisserie chicken, convenient and nicely flavored. I use plenty of finely chopped celery: nearly as much celery by volume as meat.
I do the same proportion when making tuna salad: pretty much equal parts tuna and finely chopped celery. I season mine with dill weed and dried onion powder. Usually a shake of Spike seasoning. I'll add a pinch of chipotle powder here too, when it's just for me.
Don't know whether I've shared it here already, but another favorite in my family is curried egg salad with chopped pimiento-stuffed olives. Wonderful sandwich on a Summer's day.
EDIT: When making any mayonnaise-based salad, it helps to season the mayo by itself in the bowl first. This way the flavor is evenly distributed without having to fold the final salad so thoroughly that the texture gets too smooth.
Last edited: