Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, has shared a breakfast dish he says is loved by the Royal Family, and it includes an unusual but very healthy ingredient. The 50-year-old shared the surprising recipe in his recently published book ‘Cooking & The Crown’, which details more than 100 meals enjoyed from the era of Queen Victoria to that of King Charles III.
Although the breakfast choice might initially raise eyebrows, Tom assured that it’s been a long-standing ‘classic’ within the Royal Family – and that includes a thumbs-up from Edward VII, the great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II. Writing in his new book, he named the staple ‘Herrings Fried in Oatmeal’, before adding: “A classic breakfast dish and one much enjoyed, like most dishes, by Edward VII.
“Herrings are cheap, sustainable, filled with lots of lovely omega-3 fatty acids and taste divine. What’s not to love?” Omega-3 fatty acids, often heralded as ‘healthy fats’, are prevalent not only in herrings but also in a variety of fish, nuts, and seeds.
Celebrated by numerous health experts, they’re recommended for their benefits to heart health and their potential in reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease. As per statistics from the British Heart Foundation, over 170,000 deaths annually in the UK result from heart and circulatory issues.
Specialists at the US-based University of Rochester Medical Centre explain: “Omega-3s are a helpful and important form of fat. Your body needs it but can’t make it. Your body needs 2 forms of omega fatty acids.
“These are omega-3 and omega-6. Omega-3 is the most important. Experts believe that omega-3s help prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) in healthy people. They also believe omega-3s can slow progress of the disease in those who already have it.”
Moreover, omega-3 acids play a vital role in brain health and cognition. In 2012, researchers found that older people with lower blood levels of DHA – a form of omega-3 acid – exhibited signs of accelerated ageing and even had smaller brains.
Toral Shah, a nutritional scientist and adviser to fish oil brand Wiley’s Finest, also previously told the Mirror: “The importance of omega-3 DHA for brain health and cognition are ever-evident. Just like a high-performance car, your brain needs premium fuel to function at its best.”
If you’re eager to try out Tom’s breakfast recipe, you’ll need to gather eight main ingredients. For two portions, this includes:
- One lemon (just for the juice)
- Four prepared herrings
- Tabasco, salt and pepper for seasoning
- Butter
- Oatmeal
His method involves dipping the herrings in butter and seasoning, followed by an oatmeal coating. These should then be pan-fried for approximately four to six minutes, and served with a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of Tabasco for that extra zing.