Tom Parker Bowles has shared a simple Royal Family breakfast recipe that his mother, Queen Camilla, would prepare in ‘massive quantities’ every December. The dish, affectionately called ‘buttered eggs’ by Princess Margaret, uses just four main ingredients and can be made in 10 to 20 minutes.
In his new book ‘Cooking & The Crown’, Tom writes that the eggs became a ‘Boxing Day staple’ for the family. ‘Another favourite growing up, my mother, Queen Camilla seemed to be able to make huge quantities of these, with the minimum fuss,’ he says. Princess Margaret disliked the word ‘scrambled’ and insisted on ‘buttered eggs’, a term Tom notes has ‘an appealing burr’.
The recipe serves two and requires four eggs, a block of salted butter, smoked salmon, and bread. Tom advises beating the eggs with a little salt and pepper until well mixed, then melting 30g of butter in a pan until it foams. Using low heat to avoid overcooking – which he compares to ‘wall insulator’ – stir the eggs with a wooden spoon until just set but still slightly runny. Fold in smoked salmon with extra seasoning, then pile onto buttered brown bread or toast.
Nutritionist Helen Bell of the UK Care Guide notes the health benefits: ‘Eggs are high in protein, which helps to increase satiety and keep you feeling fuller for longer. This can reduce overall calorie intake.’ A trip to Asda shows the four main ingredients cost £9.69, or £4.84 per serving: smoked salmon (£3.50), organic eggs (£2.50), butter (£1.89) and brown bread (£1.80).
