Coronation Chicken

Ingredients

• •1 ea . (2.3 kg / 5 lb ) chicken , poached (or other cooked chicken)
• •1 tbsp vegetable oil
• •1 small onion , finely chopped
• •1 tbsp curry paste
• •1 tbsp tomato purée
• •100 ml red wine
• •1 bay leaf
• •½ ea. lemon , juiced
• •4 apricot halves, finely chopped
• •300 ml (½ pint ) mayonnaise
• •100 ml (4 fl oz) whipping cream
• •Salt
• •Pepper
• •Watercress to garnish

Instructions

1. 1Skin the chicken if needed, and cut it into small pieces. Traditionally the chicken is cooked whole in advance, but alternatively you can use raw chicken and grill the chicken pieces at this point.
2. 2In a small saucepan , warm a small amount of vegetable oil.
3. 3Add the onion to the pan and cook gently until soft (about 3 minutes).
4. 4Add the curry paste, tomato puree, wine, bay leaf and lemon juice. Simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes until well-reduced. Strain and leave to cool.
5. 5Purée the chopped apricots in a blender or processor . Beat the cooled sauce into the mayonnaise with the apricot purée.
6. 6Whip the cream to stiff peaks, and fold into the mixture.
7. 7Season with salt and pepper, and a little lemon juice if necessary.
8. 8Fold in the chicken pieces, garnish with watercress, and serve.