King Charles’ beloved Cheesy Baked Eggs recipe was shared by Clarence House during the coronavirus pandemic – and this royal breakfast is just as comforting today
What comes to mind when you picture the Royal Family’s dining habits? Perhaps roast pheasant or caviar being served amidst the lavish surroundings of Buckingham Palace?
Well, a particular recipe from Clarence House reveals that Royal cuisine doesn’t always have to be quite so grand or indulgent. In fact, there is a simple dish regularly enjoyed by King Charles that can be easily recreated in your very own kitchen.
The meal, known as ‘Cheesy Baked Eggs’, was shared in 2020, when our current monarch was still the Prince of Wales. Staff on Clarence House’s Instagram account claim it can be prepared with a variety of cheeses and six other ingredients, reports the Mirror.
“One thing that undoubtedly brings many of us great comfort is good food,” His Majesty said at the time during the height 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!”
If you fancy having a go at some Royal cooking, Clarence House recommends gathering these ingredients:
- Double cream, 80ml
- Torn basil leaves
- Hard grated cheese (for example, Old Winchester), 15g
- One egg
- Optional: charcuterie/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
Start your preparation by greasing a baking dish and lining it with wilted greens and tomatoes to create an attractive base. Arrange these around the edges of the dish, leaving a well in the centre.
Once the base is prepared, scatter the creamy cheese and chopped basil over it. At this point, you might wish to add seasoning and perhaps some sliced cold cuts, though this is entirely your choice. Once the well has been created, season with salt and pepper before cracking an egg into the centre. Next, pour in 80ml of double cream, taking care not to break the yolk, then finish with a generous layer of grated hard cheese.
“Place in a hot oven (180C) for eight to 10 minutes,” instructions from Clarence House continue. “Let it stand for a few minutes before eating.”
King Charles isn’t the only member of the Royal Family with a fondness for baked eggs. Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla’s son, is equally keen on a similar recipe, which made frequent appearances throughout 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 & The Crown.
He continued: “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 & The Crown’, boasts over 100 recipes spanning from Queen Victoria’s era to King Charles III. It showcases lavish dishes such as ‘Pommes Elizabeth’ and ‘Pudding au Pain et aux Cerises’, alongside straightforward recipes ideal for home cooking.
You can find out more by clicking here.
