Coronation Chicken Salad

Coronation Chicken Salad is an iconic dish that was served at the coronation luncheon in 1953 for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth ll. There are many variations for this Indian-inspired, curried chicken salad, but I like this one the best! 

I got this variation of a recipe for coronation chicken from a chalet girl. So what do chalet girls, India, and the Queen’s coronation have to do with chicken salad?

How I Learned About Coronation Chicken Salad

When I was living in London, my dad came to visit me. We took a trip to Paris and Val D’Isere, in the Alps, to go skiing. (This post was originally published on August 20th, 2012. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn commission on qualifying purchases.)

We stayed in a chalet with mostly British visitors, and the chalet girls were all British Sloane Rangers.

The chalet girls cooked breakfast and supper every day and were all well trained at either Swiss, London, or Parisian cooking schools.

When they were done with their cooking and cleaning duties, they were able to spend the rest of the day skiing.

Wistful thoughts of skiing all day, all season long, began to plague me. But alas, I had a real job, a life in London, and was only on a two-week holiday.

One day we were served chicken coronation salad, which was first created for Queen Elizabeth ll for her coronation in 1953. It was so delicious, and I asked for the recipe.

Fortunately, the girls must have gotten lots of requests for their recipes because they’d printed a little paper cookbook with some hand-drawn illustrations. For 5 pounds I got a copy, and have made many dishes from it ever since.

Who Invented Coronation Chicken?

Angela Wood helped to invent the dish after spending days perfecting the recipe. It was originally named Poulet Reine Elizabeth, or chicken Queen Elizabeth.

The coronation chicken salad recipe was first served during the Queen’s coronation banquet in 1953.

Since the inventors clearly did so with a nod to the British Raj in India, coronation chicken is believed to have been inspired by the jubilee chicken created for George V, the Emperor of India, in 1935.

Coronation Chicken Salad Ingredients

For a coronation salad, curry powder is a necessity! Depending on your curry powder, you can add more or less to your coronation chicken salad. Let your taste buds decide. I tend to use a medium curry powder, but you can also get mild or hot.

The addition of the Major Grey’s chutney gives it a certain nuance, but there can be very large chunks. Chop the big pieces up a bit.

Sometimes I switch it up by adding raisins, apples, or cashews to the chicken salad.

Coronation chicken salad can be served as sandwich filling, or on a bed of lettuce for a low-carb lunch.

Perfect Tea Sandwich Filling!

Coronation chicken salad is perfect as a filling for delicate tea sandwiches. If you will be using it for tea sandwiches, you’ll want to chop the chicken, grapes and almonds into smaller pieces. Use a soft white bread and trim the crusts. Here is more information on how to make tea sandwiches.

Coronation History

My dad was in London for the coronation. Well, not there in Westminster Abbey, but there, with millions of others on the mall.

I still have some of the coronation souvenirs he brought back. This commemorative cup and saucer are from the May 12th, 1937 coronation that never happened!

Edward the Vlll abdicated in December of 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, but by then, the date had been set, and the china cast. The dinner plate from Elizabeth’s coronation, which of course did go off without a hitch, is also in my collection.

She’s now the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s long history. The Winston Churchill toby jar is one of my favorite pieces. Naturally, Winston was there for both the abdication and the subsequent coronation. For King Charles’s Coronation, Coronation Quiche was served.

How to Make Chicken Coronation Salad

What is in coronation chicken salad? It’s chicken, mayo, curry powder, chutney, grapes, and other seasonings.

To get started on this royal salad, start by dicing up any of the large pieces of chutney.

Heat oil in a pan over medium heat until oil shimmers. Add chopped shallots and saute for 1-2 minutes.

Add curry powder and mustard, to allow it to “bloom” for another minute or two, while stirring.

Turn off heat and add chutney, apricot jam, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

In a food processor or blender and pulse the curry, shallot, chutney, jam mixture to make a smooth paste.

In a bowl, mix diced chicken, almonds, grapes and curried mayonnaise mixture.

Serve as a filling in a sandwich or on a bed of lettuce for a lower carb or gluten-free option.

Chicken Salad is a Great Idea For Leftover Chicken

Chicken salad is nothing new for sure. It’s the perfect way to add moisture to an otherwise dry chicken or (turkey) breast.

Even though I prefer dark poultry for flavor when eating a plain bird, I always opt for white breast meat when making a chicken salad.

This coronation chicken salad recipe, or any chicken salad recipe, is also perfect for leftover turkey, making it particularly popular around the holidays.

Do you love chicken salads as much as I do? Then check out my Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad for a great fall salad.

Apricot Almond Tarragon Chicken Salad is another salad, perfect in the summer.