When imagining the dining habits of the Royal Family, one might conjure images of lavish banquets with extravagant dishes like roast pheasant or caviar, served within the opulent halls of Buckingham Palace. However, a specific recipe from Clarence House reveals that royal cuisine does not always need to be complex or costly. In fact, there is a straightforward dish regularly enjoyed by King Charles that can be easily prepared in your own kitchen.
The Royal Dish: Cheesy Baked Eggs
The dish, known as 'Cheesy Baked Eggs', was originally published in 2020, when King Charles was still the Prince of Wales. According to personnel at Clarence House's Instagram account, it can be prepared using different cheeses and just six additional ingredients, making it an accessible option for home cooks.
"One thing that undoubtedly brings many of us great comfort is good food," His Majesty stated during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic. "It is, therefore, deeply troubling to learn that this crisis risks destroying one of the most wonderful joys in life – British cheese!" This sentiment highlights the importance of simple, comforting meals, as reported by the Mirror.
Ingredients for the Royal Recipe
If you are keen to try your hand at some royal cookery, Clarence House recommends gathering the following ingredients:
- Double cream, 80ml
- Torn basil leaves
- Hard grated cheese (for example, Old Winchester), 15g
- One egg
- Optional: charcuterie or cold-cut meats
- One cherry tomato or sundried tomatoes
- Wilted spinach, 100g
- Soft cheese (for instance, Tunworth, Gold Cenarth, or other strong soft cheese), 35g
Step-by-Step Preparation
Begin by buttering a baking dish and covering it with wilted greens and tomatoes to create an attractive base. Arrange these around the dish's edge, leaving a space in the centre for the egg.
Once the foundation is prepared, sprinkle the creamy cheese and chopped basil over it. At this stage, you may add seasoning and optionally include some sliced cold meats, depending on your preference.
After forming the well, season with salt and pepper, then crack an egg into the centre. Next, pour in 80ml of double cream carefully to avoid breaking the yolk, and finish with a generous covering of grated hard cheese.
"Place in a hot oven (180C) for eight to 10 minutes," the instructions from Clarence House continue. "Let it stand for a few minutes before eating." This simple method ensures a delicious and comforting meal.
Royal Family's Love for Baked Eggs
King Charles is not the only member of the Royal Family who enjoys baked eggs. Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla's son, is equally fond of a similar recipe, which appeared regularly during his childhood.
"Baked eggs, also known as Oeufs en Cocotte, have long been a staple of the royal table, from Queen Victoria to the present day," he wrote in his recently published book, Cooking and The Crown, according to the Express.
He added: "This was also a favourite dish from my childhood, usually devoured when we returned home from our holidays, when the fridge and larder were bare. My mother would use eggs from our chickens."
Tom's culinary book, Cooking and The Crown, features over 100 recipes spanning from Queen Victoria's era to King Charles III. It presents elaborate dishes such as 'Pommes Elizabeth' and 'Pudding au Pain et aux Cerises', alongside simple recipes perfect for home cooking, showcasing the diversity of royal culinary traditions.
