Curried Chicken Salad | Coronation Chicken Salad)

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Curried Chicken Salad, also known as Coronation Chicken Salad, made its debut at Queen Elizabeth's coronation luncheon in 1957. The recipe is most often credited to Rosemary Hume and Constance Spry of Le Cordon Bleu London who created it specifically for the Queen. Seventy years later it has seen countless renditions.

Not too dissimilar to traditional chicken salad, it introduces Major Grey's Mango Chutney and curry, as well as dried fruit and nuts. If you've not tried it, I encourage you -- it's pleasant, flavorful and unexpected. Serve it on a sandwich, on a bed of lettuce, in a pita or for high tea -- in a crustless tea sandwich. Or even on a cracker for a midday snack!

Chutney became a staple in my pantry when I found myself the North American brand manager for a line of British food products -- including Starwood's Asian which featured a range of chutneys. While chutney has it roots in Indian cuisine where it's been used as a condiment for centuries, it made its way to Britain, via colonial trade with India in the 17th and 18th Century via the East India Company.

The story goes that an officer, Major Grey, a British officer, developed the condiment while serving in India, hence the name. There are many kinds of chutneys, but in the US, Major Grey's Mango Chutney is the most widely known.

I was first introduced to the concept of curry in "sandwich salads" in my first job out of college. The rather aloof and demanding owner of the Madison Avenue ad agency where I worked ate curried tuna salad and bran muffins. Every single day. (If clients were coming to the office for lunch, one could be assured that they too would be eating curried tuna salad.)

Ingredients

I discovered how useful the chutney condiment is ages ago when making an appetizer created by my sister and one that I would go to in a pinch. I have since reworked that recipe for The Savory Tart -- Major Grey's Baked Cheddar, Bacon and Chutney Dip. I love the tangy, sweet and tart flavor of mango chutney with hints of Asian spices like ginger and curry. It's the key ingredient that gives Curry Chicken Salad/Coronation Chicken Salad it's unique flavor.

golden raisins
water
rotisserie chicken
celery
green onions
fresh cilantro
salt
cashews
mayonnaise
Major Grey’s Mango Chutney
dry white wine
curry powder

See recipe card for quantities.

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Instructions

To plump the raisins, place raisins in a small microwave safe bowl. Cover them with about 2 tablespoons of water, microwave for 45 seconds and let them stand for a few minutes.

Add the raisins to a medium bowl, along with the chicken, celery, cashews, green onions and cilantro

Lightly toss ingredients together.

Add dressing ingredients to a small bowl.

Whisk together dressing ingredients.

Gently fold the dressing mixture into the chicken mixture

Substitutions

Rotisserie Chicken -- while rotisserie chicken it is commonly available -- and typically flavorful, poached chicken or even canned chicken will work here.
Mayonnaise - consider using plain Greek yogurt 50/50 with the mayonnaise
Golden Raisins - substitute with dark raisins, currents, dried cranberries, diced dried apricots. Or even substitute with 1-½ cups seedless red grapes cut in half
Cashews - use slivered almonds instead
Turmeric -- adding a ½ tsp. of turmeric to the dressing will impart a pleasant golden color to salad while enhancing the curry and chutney
Gluten Free -- served alone, this is gluten free
Vegetarian Option -- substitute the chicken with 4 cups of roasted cauliflower florets and 1 cup of drained chickpeas

Curried Chicken Salad on a bed of lettuce

Serving Suggestions

Serve on toasted multi-grain or white bread, a pita or a croissant. Add lettuce, avocado and tomato if desired.
Serve on a bed of lettuce with tomatoes, avocado and cucumbers.
As a tea sandwich. Place a layer of thinly sliced cucumbers on a piece of white bread, top with curried chicken salad and top with another slice of white bread. Trim crust and cut into triangles.
Or simply serve it on a cracker for a mid-day snack!

Equipment

small and medium bowl
measuring cups and spoons

Storage

Store the prepared salad in in a covered container for 3 to 4 days.

FAQ

Where do I find Major Grey's Mango Chutney in the grocery store?

This is found in the condiment aisle where the most common brand is Cross and Blackwell. You will also find it in the international foods in the Asian/Indian section in larger grocery retailers.

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