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    Home » Recipes » Savoury and snacks

    Mock Chicken

    Published: Mar 5, 2018 · Modified: Jan 5, 2024 by Libby Hakim · 56 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This old fashioned Mock Chicken recipe is a firm family favourite.

    All of my aunts and cousins will think of just one person when this recipe is mentioned: our Nan MacDonald, Nana Ling's daughter.

    mock chicken

    Nan Mac, as we all called her, would turn up at our family gatherings with both arms weighed down by her cooking.

    You could be sure that amongst the goodies, you'd find these two things: a dish of Mock Chicken and a perfectly baked and decorated sponge cake.

    Libby with nan and pop mac
    A very young me with my Nan and Pop Mac

    The Mock Chicken disappeared fast. Most of us didn't know what went into, we just knew it tasted great piled on top of a Jatz cracker.

    It seems I may have found the source of this much-loved recipe in Nana Ling's recipe book. A recipe for "Mock Fowl".

    What is Mock Chicken?

    Mock chicken doesn't contain any chicken, but the recipe does include an egg!

    It can be used the same way as chicken, and enjoyed with some veges, as a sandwich filling or atop a cracker.

    It was popular at a time when chicken and other meats may have been a luxury.

    Nana Ling’s recipe is dated December 1941, a time when Australia had just declared war on Japan and learnt that 645 crewmen had been lost with the sinking of the HMAS Sydney following a battle with a German raider off the Western Australian coast.

    It’s not surprising that I’ve stumbled across quite a few “mock” recipes in her notebook. Rationing of food and clothes happened in Australia from 1942.

    Are we falling in love with this depression-era dish again?

    Although it may have been a meat substitute during poorer times, it definitely isn't a poor substitute, taste-wise.

    Of course, these days mock meat is popular for entirely different reasons, too. 

    Many people switch to vegetarianism for weight loss, health-related and environmental reasons.

    Perhaps Mock Chicken is ripe for a comeback? I can almost see Nana Ling and Nan Mac smiling at that thought!

    Ingredients for Mock Chicken

    To make Mock Chicken, you'll need:

    • small onion
    • 1 tomato
    • 1 dessert spoon butter
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon mixed herbs.

    My Aunty Judy also now adds a tablespoon of grated cheese to the mix.

    This recipe calls for a peeled tomato.

    Peeling tomatoes is a little different compared with peeling your standard fruit and vegetables.

    While it may seem a little fiddly, it’s an interesting process and delivers a lovely, clean result. Much nicer than the mushy mess you’d be left with if you attempted this process with a peeler.

    Making Mock Chicken

    Peeling the tomato

    First, prepare a saucepan of boiling water and a bowl of cold water.

    Wash tomatoes and remove the stem.

    Cut a shallow X in the bottom of the tomato using a small, sharp knife.

    Place the tomato into the boiling water and after about 20 seconds the skin around the X should start to split further.

    Immediately remove from boiling water and place into the bowl of cold water.

    You should be able to remove the thin outer skin of the tomato quickly and easily with your hands.

    Once cooled, chop the tomato and set aside.

    Cooking it all up

    Add the finely chopped onion to a frying pan and cook until clear.

    Add butter and tomato to pan and cook well.

    Beat egg and add to mixture along with herbs and cheese (if you're adding cheese).

    Cook and stir in salt and pepper to taste.

    Blend a little with a stick blender or chopper if desired to achieve a finer texture or serve as is.

    Serve cool.

    Nana Ling's original handwritten Mock Chicken recipe

    Keep scrolling to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the tested and tweaked version.

    mock chicken recipe handwritten
    mock chicken

    Mock Chicken

    Libby Hakim
    This mock chicken recipe has been handed down for 4 generations and is a firm family favourite
    4.88 from 47 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Australian, British, English, Welsh
    Servings 4
    Calories 120 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 small onion
    • 1 tomato
    • 1 dessert spoon butter
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
    • 1 tablespoon grated cheese (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Peel tomato and chop. Set aside.
    • Add finely chopped onion to a frying pan and cook until clear.
    • Add butter and tomato to pan and cook well.
    • Beat egg and add to mixture along with herbs. Cook and stir in salt and pepper to taste.
    • Blend a little with a stick blender or chopper if desired to achieve a finer texture or serve as is.
    • Serve cool.

    Video

    Notes

    Aunty Judy's recipe tips:
    • Let the mixture cool slightly for about 5 mins, then use a stick blender for a few seconds to create a smoother-textured Mock Chicken
    • You can also add a tablespoon of grated cheese to the ingredients (Nan Mac did this – maybe their generation had times a little better to add the cheese to recipe).
    You can serve Mock Chicken as a meal with a side salad, as suggested in Nana Ling's recipe book, enjoy it with crackers, use it as a sandwich filling and more. Get creative! I'd love to hear other ways you serve Mock Chicken in the comments below.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 7gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 78mgPotassium: 454mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1260IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1.1mg
    Tried this recipe?If you love it, let me know!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dot Harland

      December 23, 2019 at 12:34 pm

      I am about to do some catering and was wondering what quantities I would need for 7 loaves of bread

      Reply
      • Libby

        December 26, 2019 at 10:58 pm

        Hi Dot. I think you'd need about 1-2 quantities for each loaf, depending on how thick you like the spread. Libby

        Reply
    2. Karen

      December 22, 2019 at 4:43 pm

      I think pop’s home grown tomatoes made the difference

      Reply
      • Libby

        December 26, 2019 at 10:51 pm

        They were the best! Tried to grow some this year and not much success - Pop Mac would have known what I'm doing wrong.

        Reply
    3. Gwen Clarke

      August 29, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      I am hoping this is the recipe A lady used in her café when I was a kid I used to work there and loved this on fresh bread.

      Reply
      • Libby

        August 30, 2019 at 9:07 am

        I hope so too, Gwen ??

        Reply
    4. Carissa

      August 18, 2019 at 8:39 am

      5 stars
      I recently got my Nan’s mock chicken recipe from my cousin to submit to school for a cooking book, but I was curious about the history of it. I googled “what is the history of mock chicken” and your recipe came up. It is exactly my Nan’s recipe. I’ve just made it now but it never tastes as good as Nan’s ?

      Reply
      • Libby

        August 18, 2019 at 9:45 pm

        Hi Carissa! Yes, our Nans had a magic touch that is hard to match 🙂 So glad you found the recipe and it matched with your Nan's recipe. This recipe is the most popular recipe on my blog, many people arrive here via Google 🙂

        Reply
    5. Tara Brooks

      January 18, 2019 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      A classic recipe! Brings back such fond memories of hot days and share- plate lunches at the Yuna Tennis Club- there was always one person who made mock- chicken. We loved it on fresh white bread sandwiches.

      Reply
      • Libby

        January 18, 2019 at 9:59 pm

        Mock chicken seems to be a a happy food for many - thanks for sharing your thoughts Tara❣️

        Reply
    6. Jan

      December 17, 2018 at 8:54 pm

      Thanks for this , I remember my mother serving it on jazz crackers too. She had the recipe from her Welsh grandmother who called it something that sounded like sklamootch (not the right spelling!) has anybody else heard the word..?

      Reply
      • Libby

        December 19, 2018 at 9:39 pm

        Hi Jan. Yes, It always goes so well on a good ol' Jatz! I've not heard of it being a Welsh dish. But when I was Googling just now I came across the dish called "Welsh Rarebit" - I'd never heard of it but that sounds interesting too. Perhaps someone else may read this and be able to add something more.

        Reply
    7. Judie

      November 28, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      I've loved mock chicken as a sandwich filling all my life but the only time I served it as a dip, everyone said it looked gross and I had to take most of it home. Not that I minded!

      Reply
      • Libby

        November 28, 2018 at 8:41 pm

        Hi Judie 🙂 That's hilarious - we only ever had it as a dip and I only recently learned some people use it as a sandwich filling. If only they knew what they were missing out on!

        Reply
    8. Liz Walford

      October 07, 2018 at 12:42 pm

      I add a couple of spoons of gherkin relish! Yum! I will
      try it with herbs and onion. PS I have just discovered your site. I'm loving it!! Thanks.

      Reply
      • Libby

        October 07, 2018 at 6:24 pm

        Hi Liz. Nice idea - I'll try it and add it as a variation above! Thanks so much for your lovely feedback ☺️ x

        Reply
        • Kaye Campbell

          January 04, 2021 at 10:41 am

          Hi there
          I made this for breakfast this morning served on toast. It is an old family favourite. I remember my mum making it and always it was yummy. My children have grown up with it too.

        • Libby

          January 04, 2021 at 12:43 pm

          oh yum! I've never thought to have it for breakfast but it'd be perfect. Enjoy x

        • Adele Clarke

          January 14, 2024 at 10:09 pm

          love mock chicken, especially warm on toasted rye bread...always add a smidgeon of curry powder! 😉

    9. Liz

      September 13, 2018 at 9:06 am

      Thanks for sharing! I love mock chicken! Mum used to make mock chicken sandwiches for Dad and I when we went to local footy matches when I was little, and I still make it today, 30 years on. It's even better the next day.

      Reply
    10. Aged Care Catering

      September 06, 2018 at 4:37 pm

      Nice post you had shared here.
      Thanks for this recipe.

      Reply
      • Libby

        September 06, 2018 at 10:38 pm

        You're welcome!

        Reply
    11. Geoff McCracken

      August 03, 2018 at 9:10 pm

      I love be this mock chicken. I found by adding S touch of Keens Curry powder it made the taste more awesome. Yummo

      Reply
      • Libby

        August 03, 2018 at 10:29 pm

        That sounds great, Geoff. I'll give it a go and update the post to add this in as an option. Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    12. Liz

      July 20, 2018 at 8:08 pm

      Thanks for sharing this recipe. My mother used to make this recipe when I was little (with the addition of cheese) as a sandwich spread for my Dad and I when we used too go to local footy matches. 30 years later I'm still making it!

      Reply
      • Libby

        July 20, 2018 at 10:42 pm

        Hi Liz. You're welcome - thanks for commenting. It is such a popular recipe in our family and I'm not surprised you've been making it for 30 years. It really is a gem! I'm going to try it with cheese added. Libby x

        Reply
      • John Siviour

        January 09, 2024 at 7:16 pm

        5 stars
        i am 70 and got the recipe from my mother i made some tonight and it brought back so many memories. the addition of cheese is a must . i use it on sandwiches and the recipe has travelled with me from australia to the uk. it never fails to impress.

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Libby, a recipe collector and writer. I love everything about home cooking and share modern classics and recipes that have been passed down for generations – I hope you find a few that bring back treasured memories.

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