Make this British royal dish in a mere 15 minutes! Mary Berry’s Coronation Chicken, featured in the book ‘Mary Berry Cooks Up A Feast,’ is not only effortlessly delicious when using leftover chicken but also perfect for whipping up a quick coronation chicken for a crowd. Explore the versatile dish for delightful coronation vol au vents, sandwiches, salads, and jacket potatoes, making it an excellent choice for outdoor eating!
Prep: 10 mins Total: 15 mins Yields: 6
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What is the Coronation Chicken?
This dish got its name because it was served at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation dinner. The whole dish, created by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume, was even published in newspapers so people could whip it up at home while watching the ceremony on TV and it’s considered the first-ever television food. I must say It wasn’t exactly a new dish since the origin of coronation chicken dates back to when it was served at King George V’s Silver Jubilee.
The original dish is essentially chicken cooked to perfection, dressed in a delightful curry-spiced mayo. What’s amusing is how such a straightforward recipe found its place even in Buckingham Palace! Here’s the scoop: the original recipe had apricots instead of grapes and didn’t contain a single sultana while the dressing had equal parts of mayonnaise and whipped cream.
Nowadays, the coronation chicken trend is all about those juicy grapes. Imagine shredded boiled chicken mixed with curry, mayo and cream. And the fresh grapes? They take the dish to a whole new level of yum. So, are you up for trying Mary Berry’s delightful twist on a royal classic?
What is the Mary Berry Coronation Chicken?
This Mary Berry Coronation Chicken is a slightly different British recipe than the original coronation recipe that made its way into Buckingham Palace. While the traditional Coronation Chicken dish often features ingredients like apricot puree and mango chutney, Mary Berry’s version opts for the simplicity and sweetness of the apricot jam. Mary here also uses lemon zest and juice in this recipe adding a zesty, citrusy dimension to the sauce that sets it apart from the classic. A generous sprinkling of curry powder adds an irresistible depth of flavour, while a touch of tomato purée adds a delightful tang to this royal delight.
Why you’ll like it
Here are a few reasons why you need to give Mary Berry Chicken Coronation a try:
- Luxury Coronation Chicken Recipe: This dish strikes the ideal balance between savoury, sweet, and tangy. The creamy texture in each bite adds a luxurious element to this unique British dish.
- Quick and Easy: With a prep time of just 15 minutes, it’s a lifesaver for busy days when you crave something gourmet without the hassle. Look at Mary’s new book full of quick and easy recipes.
- Versatile Mary Berry Chicken Recipe: Enjoy it in various ways – used in salads, as a filling for your sandwich or roll, or as a pasta sauce!
- Family Favorite: Loved by kids and adults alike, this dish has a wide appeal, making it a go-to for family gatherings or potluck dinners.
What are the Ingredients for Mary Berry Coronation Chicken?
- Cooked Chicken. 1 pound (450 g) of cooked chicken, cut into pieces
- Apricot jam. 2 tbsp apricot jam
- Curry powder. 1 tbsp of mild curry powder
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- Mayonnaise. 1 cup mayonnaise
- Fresh cream. ¾ cup half-fat fresh cream
- Tomato purée. 1 tbsp tomato purée
- Lemon. Lemon juice and finely grated lemon zest from 1 lemon
- Onions. 2 spring onions, finely chopped
- Grapes. 1 cup black/green seedless grapes, cut in half lengthways
- Rocket. Use rocket or coriander for the salad, to garnish
How to make Mary Berry Coronation Chicken?
- Melt the jam with the curry powder. Heat the jam and curry powder in a small saucepan until the jam is melted. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare the chicken dressing. In a mixing bowl combine the mayonnaise, fresh cream, tomato puree, lemon zest, and juice and mix. Stir in the jam sauce.
- Assemble. Combine the chicken, spring onion and half of the grapes on a bed of rocket leaves. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with the remaining grapes and coriander leaves.
How to Cook the Chicken
When it comes to cooked chicken, whether it’s breasts or thighs, the key is to make sure it’s cooked all the way through. My go-to quick fix is boiling the chicken in water and letting it simmer for about 15 minutes – perfect for those busy moments. But, if you’ve got a bit more time on your hands, toss in a peeled carrot, onion, and celery stalk while boiling. You’ll end up with some tasty tender chicken plus the stock that can be a game-changer for soups or risotto later.
Quick tip for poaching times:
- Whole Chicken: A medium-sized whole chicken takes around 30-45 minutes of poaching.
- Chicken Pieces: It usually takes about 15-25 minutes, depending on their size.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken: Poaching time is generally shorter, ranging from 10 to 20 minutes. Easy peasy!
What to Serve with Coronation Chicken Recipe?
- Filling: Spread the coronation sauce on white, whole wheat, baguette, pita pockets, naan or wraps.
- Topping. Serve atop toasted bread, jacket potatoes, salad, rice or pasta.
- Grilled veggies: Serve the coronation chicken with grilled veggies as a side.
Variations of Mary Berry Coronation Chicken
- For an Added Crunch. Add toasted almonds or cashews.
- Lighter version. Substitute Greek yoghurt for the fresh cream for a lighter option.
- Curry Powder. Adjust the amount of curry powder to your spice preference.
- Fruits. Experiment with different fruits like fresh mango, dried sultanas or apricots.
- Apricot Jam. If you love the sauce slightly less tangy or don’t have apricot jam in your pantry I suggest you swap for mango chutney.
- Egg-free: Swap may without one without eggs.
- Dairy-free: Swap the fresh cream with a thick dairy-free yoghurt.
Tips to Make the Mary Berry Coronation Chicken
- Chicken: Prepare the chicken from the day before so you can quickly prepare a packed lunch for the office, a nice picnic, or any outing. Pan-fry, boil, poach, bake, or grill. Nevertheless, the chicken will taste amazing!
- Mayonnaise: Use a premium-quality, creamy mayo.
- Curry Powder: Use mild curry powder and adjust the amount according to your taste.
- Apricot Jam: Go for a thick consistency, either store-bought or homemade. Alternatively, use mango chutney.
- Grapes. Fresh, juicy grapes add a delightful contrast to the creamy sauce. Fresh apricots, sultanas and cranberries are also good replacements.
- Sultanas: Use plump golden sultanas. Raisins or dried cranberries are suitable replacements.
How to store Coronation Chicken Mary Berry?
- Refrigerating the Coronation Chicken. Cool the sauce completely first. Store any leftover sauce in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- For freezing, Remove the salad and fresh grapes. Transfer to freezer-safe bags or containers. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. To reheat. Remove the salad and fresh grapes. Microwave for 1-2 minutes stirring occasionally or otherwise heat for a couple of minutes until the recommended temperature of 165°F (74°C) is reached.
Nutritional Notes (59 g protein)
So, whether you’re watching your macros or just indulging in some delicious coronation chicken, let’s look at the nutritional breakdown of coronation chicken per serving, here’s the lowdown: Each serving packs a flavorful punch with 1067.69 calories, and it’s got a rich texture thanks to 83.93 grams of fat. On the lighter side, you’ve got 19.61 grams of carbs, balancing things out. And for the protein lovers out there, you’re in for a treat – there’s a hefty 59.71 grams of protein in every serving.
Mary Berry’s coronation chicken salad is naturally gluten-free, soy-free, peanut-free and nut-free.
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MORE BRITISH RECIPES:
- Dijon Chicken Recipe Mary Berry
- Mary Berry Chicken Casserole Mary Berry
- Sheperd’s Pie Mary Berry
- British Fish Pie Mary Berry
- Easy Tuna Pasta Bake Mary Berry
Final Takeaway (4 out of 5)
PROS: This is a family-friendly recipe and a winner even for younger kids. This recipe is also ideal for reusing chicken or turkey leftovers which is a plus given the importance of reducing the food bill and avoiding throwing away food. So, every Sunday, we whip up recipes like the Coronation pasta sauce using all those bits of pieces. How about you? Any clever tricks for putting leftovers to good use?
CONS: Adding both fresh cream and mayonnaise makes it a little two creamy. Swap the mayonnaise for Greek yoghurt and omitting the fresh cream makes it much easier to digest. Nevertheless, this homemade Coronation Chicken is more wholesome than the one on the shelf at Marks and Spencer.
Verdict: 4/5: I promote and suggest that you try this classic British dish.
Coronation Chicken Recipe Mary Berry
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked chicken cut into pieces
- 2 tablespoons apricot jam
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup half-fat fresh cream
- 1 tablespoon tomato purée
- 1 lemon zest finely grated
- 1 lemon juice
- 2 spring onions finely chopped
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup black/green seedless grapes cut in half lengthways
- rocket or parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into pieces. Remove the pre-cooked chicken skin and cut the chicken into small pieces.
- Melt the curry in the jam. Heat the jam and curry powder in a small saucepan until the jam is melted. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare the coronation chicken sauce. Combine with mayonnaise, fresh cream, tomato puree, lemon zest, and juice. Mix well.
- Assemble the coronation chicken. Combine the chicken, spring onion and half of the grapes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve. Spoon on a serving platter and garnish with the remaining grapes and rocket leaves.
I have stumbled this recipe by Mary Berry by coincidence and I must say I love the mix of the mayo, spice and grapes. When I forgot to buy grapes I have swapped them for dried cranberries or dried apricots!
That’s smart Linda! Sometimes I don’t feel like apricot jam and just throw some extra dried apricots with the grapes and it still tastes awesome!
I was looking for a Coronation Chicken without mango chutney. I’m glad I found this since I always keep apricot jam and grapes in my fridge. I tried it for kids packed lunches and they truly enjoyed it though I almost didn’t use any curry. Will bookmark this and give it a try if you have kids that won’t eat chicken at all!
We share exactly the same thoughts. In fact when I have tried the recipe a year ago I wanted to share it for the same reason.
In the USA, what would be the equivalent of half fat cream? Half and half?
Half and half is perfect. In UK half cream is cream with not less than 12% milk fat.