Coronation Chickpeas (Creamy Curried Chickpea Salad)

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Coronation chicken has been a popular dish in the UK ever since it was created to honour the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II back in 1953. And it’s so ridiculously tasty that it deserves to be resurrected for King Charles’ coronation!

The vegetarian version uses chickpeas instead of chicken, along with little nibbles of tasty dried fruit and fresh herbs in a creamy curry sauce.

Creamy coronation chickpeas served on toast and salad.

I’m always amazed by just how much flavour you can get from just a few ingredients, and these coronation chickpeas are the perfect example. With just 6 simple ingredients and literally 5 minutes of effort, the amount of flavour is unreal!

And what’s more, the flavour only gets better over time – so whip up a quick batch of this simple chickpea salad a little while before you need it, and it will be ready to go when you are.

We Brits are renowned for making something tasty from super simple ingredients (perhaps due to necessity during post-war rationing!), so check out my other British recipes for some more inspiration.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s such a quick recipe – it takes no more than 5 minutes of effort to make! Mix ingredients –> eat. Perfect.
  • Since the flavours only get better over time, it’s ideal for preparing in advance and keeping in the fridge for a couple of days until you’re ready to eat.
  • The flavours are just incredible, especially considering how simple it is to make!
  • Coronation chickpeas are super versatile – serve them on toast, as a salad topper, or just on their own as part of a vegetarian mezze.

🥗 Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe. You’ll also need a couple of cupboard staples, like salt and pepper. See the printable recipe card below for detailed ingredient quantities.

Ingredients for coronation chickpeas with text overlay.
  • canned chickpeas
  • mayonnaise (regular or light is fine)
  • spring onions
  • dried fruit – apricots, raisins, or a bit of both!
  • curry powder
  • cilantro (or parsley)

Becca’s Top Tip

The recipe is easy to adapt with whatever mix-ins you feel like, so make it your own! You could swap the curry powder for your favourite spice, add some extra fresh and crunchy vegetables, or use Greek yogurt instead of mayo. See my creamy chickpea salad sandwiches for some more ideas.

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📋 Instructions

Here’s how to make this recipe – see below for the printable recipe with detailed ingredients and instructions.

Ingredients for coronation chickpeas in a mixing bowl.

Step 1: Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl.

Coronation chickpeas in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Mix well to combine. If you have time, leave the mixture in the fridge for an hour or so, or even overnight. Otherwise, they’re great eaten straight away too!

Curried coronation chickpeas on toast and lettuce.

Step 3: Serve chilled, on toast or salad.

Becca’s Top Tip

Although these creamy chickpeas are delicious on all kinds of bread, I prefer to choose a crunchy kind, as it adds a nice bit of texture to the dish. Something like a crunchy baguette or a slice of toast is perfect.

💭 Recipe FAQs

What is coronation chicken?

Coronation chicken is a cold British dish that was created to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It has since become a popular dish for picnics, buffets, and sandwiches. This vegetarian version uses chickpeas instead of chicken.

Can I prepare the recipe in advance?

Absolutely! It’s delicious eaten straight after being prepared, but if anything, it’s even better the next day. Just mix everything together, and store in an airtight tub in the fridge for a day or two until you’re ready to serve.

Is the recipe served warm or cold?

Coronation chickpeas are best serve chilled.

Creamy coronation chickpeas served on toast and lettuce.
Creamy coronation chickpeas on toast and lettuce.

Coronation Chickpeas

Coronation chickpeas are a quick and seriously flavourful vegetarian version of the British dish coronation chicken. Perfect for picnics!

If you’ve cooked this recipe, don’t forget to leave a star rating!

5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Comment
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Calories: 203kcal
Author: Becca Heyes

Ingredients

  • 1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained (240g when drained)
  • 2 spring onions, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons dried fruit (raisins, chopped dried apricots, or a bit of both)
  • 1 teaspoon mild curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Few sprigs fresh coriander (cilantro) or parsley, chopped

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Mix well to combine. If you have time, leave in the fridge for at least an hour. If you’d prefer to leave them overnight, transfer to an air-tight tub.
  • Serve chilled with toast, crunchy bread (e.g. baguette), or salad.

Notes

This dish is arguably even better prepared the day before you need it, and stored in an air-tight tub in the fridge to let the flavours develop.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Coronation Chickpeas
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 203 Calories from Fat 74
% Daily Value*
Fat 8.2g13%
Saturated Fat 1.2g6%
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 454mg19%
Potassium 238mg7%
Carbohydrates 28.1g9%
Fiber 5.9g24%
Sugar 13.3g15%
Protein 6g12%
Calcium 42mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

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13 Comments

    1. They’re basically just like raisins, but they’re a bit bigger and juicier. Raisins would be fine too, but try not to get the really hard black ones. I had no idea that other places didn’t have sultanas!

  1. Oh, that sounds awesome. I’ve made chickpea salad many times, but the curry and sultanas will make for a great twist, much thanks for the recipe ♥