This dish was ‘invented’ for the present Queen’s Coronation celebrations, way back in the early 50s! Tradition has it that it used curry to pay homage to the Indian sub-continental countries of the British Empire (now known as the Commonwealth) This is a popular salad staple here in the UK – so popular that many of the supermarket chains sell Coronation chicken sandwiches! It is a popular summer lunch item, or a smaller amount, without the rice salad, is served a a starter.
These are the amounts I use for 6-8 servings
2 small chickens
1 carrot, cut into chunks
1 bouquet garni
Pinch of salt
3-4 peppercorns
300ml white wine
Cream curry sauce.
1 tbsp sunflower oil
½ small onion, chopped
1 tbsp mild curry powder (use a slightly stronger powder if you so desire, although the curry taste would then overwhelm the rest of the ingredients!)
1 heaped tsp tomato purée
100ml red wine
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Pinch of sugar
2 slices lemon, plus squeeze of lemon juice
300g mayonnaise
1-2 tbsp apricot jam
50ml double cream, lightly whipped
Put the chickens in a casserole large enough to hold them. Add the carrot, bouquet garni, salt, peppercorns and wine, and enough water to just cover. Bring to the boil, cover, reduce to a gentle simmer and poach for 40 minutes or until tender. Leave to cool in the liquid; this takes some time, so you could even leave them overnight.
To make the sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the onion and cook gently for 3-4 minutes. Add the curry powder and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the tomato purée, wine, bay leaf and 100ml water. Bring to the boil, add salt, pepper and sugar to taste, the lemon slices and juice. Simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes. Strain and leave to cool. Remove the lemon slices.
Add the curry mix to the mayonnaise, a little at a time, then add apricot jam to taste. Adjust the seasoning. Stir in 2-3 tbsp of the whipped cream. Take half the sauce and mix with the remaining whipped cream.
Joint the chickens, removing the bones with care, and cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.
Mix the chicken with the creamier half of the curry sauce. Arrange on a dish and coat with the extra curry sauce. Serve with a rice salad.
Rice salad
Rinse 250g white, long grain rice, place in a pan, cover with cold water, add 1 tsp salt and bring to the boil. Cook for 5 minutes, then add 200g frozen petits pois and cook for 5 minutes more. Drain in a colander and refresh under cold water.
Leave to cool fully. Meanwhile, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, ½ tsp Dijon mustard and some seasoning. Tip the rice and peas into a bowl, stir in ½ diced cucumber, a 20-30 g, chopped, and the dressing. Serve.
These are the amounts I use for 6-8 servings
2 small chickens
1 carrot, cut into chunks
1 bouquet garni
Pinch of salt
3-4 peppercorns
300ml white wine
Cream curry sauce.
1 tbsp sunflower oil
½ small onion, chopped
1 tbsp mild curry powder (use a slightly stronger powder if you so desire, although the curry taste would then overwhelm the rest of the ingredients!)
1 heaped tsp tomato purée
100ml red wine
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Pinch of sugar
2 slices lemon, plus squeeze of lemon juice
300g mayonnaise
1-2 tbsp apricot jam
50ml double cream, lightly whipped
Put the chickens in a casserole large enough to hold them. Add the carrot, bouquet garni, salt, peppercorns and wine, and enough water to just cover. Bring to the boil, cover, reduce to a gentle simmer and poach for 40 minutes or until tender. Leave to cool in the liquid; this takes some time, so you could even leave them overnight.
To make the sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the onion and cook gently for 3-4 minutes. Add the curry powder and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the tomato purée, wine, bay leaf and 100ml water. Bring to the boil, add salt, pepper and sugar to taste, the lemon slices and juice. Simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes. Strain and leave to cool. Remove the lemon slices.
Add the curry mix to the mayonnaise, a little at a time, then add apricot jam to taste. Adjust the seasoning. Stir in 2-3 tbsp of the whipped cream. Take half the sauce and mix with the remaining whipped cream.
Joint the chickens, removing the bones with care, and cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.
Mix the chicken with the creamier half of the curry sauce. Arrange on a dish and coat with the extra curry sauce. Serve with a rice salad.
Rice salad
Rinse 250g white, long grain rice, place in a pan, cover with cold water, add 1 tsp salt and bring to the boil. Cook for 5 minutes, then add 200g frozen petits pois and cook for 5 minutes more. Drain in a colander and refresh under cold water.
Leave to cool fully. Meanwhile, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, ½ tsp Dijon mustard and some seasoning. Tip the rice and peas into a bowl, stir in ½ diced cucumber, a 20-30 g, chopped, and the dressing. Serve.
Last edited:
Barbara
Never too sure whether people find my recipes interesting or not - or whether my comments add 'colour' to them!!!
