Delia Smith Coronation Chicken Recipe

This royal Coronation Chicken is a buffet classic as well as being incredibly vibrant! Simmering the curry spices with red wine and apricot jam makes the sauce go sweet and tangy, which along with the lightly whipped cream adds a luxurious lightness to this salad that is so perfect for a summer celebration.

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Delia Smith Coronation Chicken Recipe Ingredients

• The Chicken:
  • 2 x 1.5kg (3 lb 8 oz) roasting chickens (roasted and cooled), or approx. 1kg cooked chicken meat, skin removed and cut into bite-sized pieces
• The Curry Base:
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp high-quality curry powder (Delia recommends Madras)
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 120ml (4 fl oz) red wine
  • 120ml (4 fl oz) water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and freshly milled black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 slices lemon
  • 2 level tbsp apricot jam
• The Creamy Sauce:
  • 425ml (3/4 pint) good quality mayonnaise
  • 110ml (4 fl oz) whipping cream (lightly whipped)

How To Make Delia Smith Coronation Chicken Recipe

1. Sauté aromatics: Heat the oil in a small saucepan. Add the chopped onion and cook gently for 3–4 minutes until soft but not browned. Add the curry powder and cook for another 1–2 minutes to release the oils and cook out the raw spice flavor.
2. Add liquids: Stir in the tomato purée, red wine, water, and the bay leaf. Add the sugar, lemon slices, salt, and pepper.
3. Reduce: Bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it cook uncovered for about 5–10 minutes. Crucial: You want the liquid to reduce until it is barely there, leaving a thick, aromatic paste.
4. Strain and sweeten: Strain the reduced mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing down on the onions with the back of a spoon to extract all the flavor. Discard the onions and aromatics. While the liquid is still warm, stir in the apricot jam until dissolved. Leave to cool completely.
5. Finish the sauce: Once the curry base is cold, beat it into the mayonnaise until smooth. In a separate bowl, lightly whip the cream until it holds soft flops (not stiff peaks). Fold the whipped cream gently into the mayonnaise mixture.
6. Combine: Fold the cooked, bite-sized chicken pieces into the sauce until thoroughly coated.
7. Serve: Garnish with fresh herbs (parsley or coriander) or toasted flaked almonds if desired. Serve chilled.

Recipe Tips!

• Roast, Don’t Boil: Delia insists on roasting the chickens yourself rather than boiling them. Roasted meat has a deeper flavor and firmer texture that doesn’t disintegrate in the sauce.
• The Wine Factor: Red wine gives the sauce a distinct depth and color that water alone cannot achieve. It mimics the richness of the original 1953 recipe created for Queen Elizabeth II.
• Apricot Jam: This is the secret sweetener! Mango chutney is often used in modern versions, but apricot jam provides a smoother texture and a subtle fruitiness that isn’t chunky.
• Whipped Cream: Don’t skip the cream! Whipping the cream before folding it in lightens the heavy mayonnaise, making the sauce airy and coating rather than gloopy.

What To Serve With Delia Smith Coronation Chicken Recipe?

This Delia Smith Coronation Chicken Recipe is the queen of the cold buffet! It pairs magnificently with a vibrant Rice Salad packed with peppers and peas. For a classic picnic vibe, serve it with a simple Green Salad and some crusty French Bread to scoop up the sauce! If you want to keep it retro, a side of coleslaw and some buttered Jacket Potatoes makes for a hearty lunch.

How To Store Delia Smith Coronation Chicken Recipe

• Refrigerate: Store the finished dish in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The sauce may loosen slightly as it sits.
• Make Ahead: You can make the curry base paste days in advance and keep it in the fridge. Mix it with the mayo and cream on the day of serving.
• Freeze: Do not freeze this dish. Mayonnaise and whipped cream both separate and curdle when frozen and thawed.

Delia Smith Coronation Chicken Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 450 kcal
• Fat: 35g
• Carbohydrates: 8g
• Protein: 30g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Delia Smith Chicken Tray Bake Recipe
• Delia Smith Chicken Tagine Recipe
• Delia Smith Chicken and Mushroom Pie Recipe