The history of the Queen’s Coronation chicken and how to make it

A bowl of coronation chicken on a colourful background
It was first referred to as Poulet Reine Elizabeth (Image: Getty)

When Queen Elizabeth II had her official coronation in 1953, a brand-new dish was invented and served for the celebratory luncheon.

These days, Coronation rooster is a basic sandwich staple, however 70 years in the past, it was novel and even extravagant, what with the nation nonetheless underneath rationing restrictions after the conflict.

The honour of catering the luncheon was bestowed upon Rosemary Hume, a former scholar of Le Cordon Bleu Paris, and her college students at L’Ecole du Petit Cordon Bleu in Marylebone, London, which she herself had opened in 1933.

In line with the Le Cordon Bleu London web site, this invite from Sir David Eccles, the Minister of Works, to cater for the 300 and fifty VIPs on the luncheon was what helped cement the then-20-year-old faculty’s success within the culinary world.

The 2 folks credited with inventing the rooster dish are Rosemary herself and her fellow faculty principal Constance Spry, a meals author and flower arranger.

It was first referred to as Poulet Reine Elizabeth, and was initially made with ‘younger roasting chickens, water and slightly wine to cowl carrot, a bouquet garni, salt, peppercorns and a cream of curry sauce.’

Reasonably than being eaten in bread for the Coronation Luncheon, it was served with a salad of rice, pimentos and inexperienced peas.

Whereas the recipe has been tweaked by many over time, the creamy rooster dish has remained common to at the present time for good motive.

Homemade Curried Coronation Chicken with Lettuce
Hungry? (Image: Getty Pictures/iStockphoto)

How you can make Coronation rooster

Serves eight

:

  • 2.3kg (5lb) rooster
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 small finely chopped onion
  • 1 tbsp curry paste
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 100ml pink wine
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Juice of ½ a lemon
  • 4 finely chopped apricot halves
  • 300ml mayonnaise
  • 100ml whipping cream
  • Salt and pepper
  • Watercress to garnish

:

1. Pores and skin the rooster, reduce it into small items and grill it till cooked. In a small saucepan warmth the oil, add the onion and cook dinner for about three minutes till softened.

2. Add the curry paste, tomato purée, wine, bay leaf and lemon juice and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes till properly lowered. Pressure and depart to chill.

3. Purée the chopped apricot in a blender and beat the cooled sauce into the mayonnaise with the apricot combination.

4. Season, including slightly extra lemon juice if obligatory. Fold within the rooster items, garnish with watercress and serve.

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