On Saturday 6 May 2023, history will be made as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony that will reflect the modern-day role of the monarchy. The coronation will be a mix of ancient and modern, rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry, but also looking towards the future. It will be the first coronation held on a Saturday since Edward VII in 1902, and it will be a shorter, smaller and more diverse ceremony than the previous one, held 70 years ago for Queen Elizabeth II.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, why not try making a dish that was created for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953? Coronation chicken is a classic British recipe that features chicken, mayonnaise, curry powder, apricots and almonds. It was invented by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume for the coronation banquet of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and it has since become a popular sandwich filling and salad ingredient.
The original recipe was inspired by jubilee chicken, a dish made for the silver jubilee of King George V in 1935. It consisted of chicken cooked in white wine and stock, then mixed with mayonnaise flavoured with curry paste, tomato purée and red wine. Spry and Hume added apricots and almonds to give it a fruity and nutty twist, and they called it poulet Reine Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth chicken).
The dish was a hit at the coronation banquet, which was attended by more than 8,000 guests from around the Commonwealth. It was also widely enjoyed by the public, who celebrated the coronation with street parties and picnics. Coronation chicken became a symbol of post-war optimism and British multiculturalism, as it incorporated exotic flavours from India and other parts of the empire.
Today, coronation chicken is still a beloved dish that can be enjoyed on various occasions. You can make it with leftover roast chicken or poached chicken breasts, and you can adjust the spiciness and sweetness to your taste. You can also add other ingredients such as raisins, mango chutney or fresh herbs to make it more interesting.
If you want to make coronation chicken with a modern twist, you can follow the recipe from Le Cordon Bleu London, a culinary school that offers courses on royal cuisine. Their version uses Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter and tangier dressing, and it adds fresh ginger, lime juice and coriander for extra zing. They also suggest serving it with naan bread or lettuce cups for a fun finger food.
Whether you make it traditional or modern, coronation chicken is a delicious way to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation and honour the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. It is a dish that represents the past, present and future of the British monarchy and its diverse influences.