Tom Parker Bowles has shared a recipe that was made for the late Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother after a dessert panic at Clarence House – and it’s not what you’d expect
Tom Parker Bowles has revealed the quirky story behind one Royal Family dessert. The 50-year-old reflected on the incident involving the late Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother, which caused quite a stir at Clarence House.
The situation came about when their cherished chef, Alma McKee, served a delicious meat course for lunch but accidentally forgot about dessert. Frantically scrambling for something to whip up, her eyes landed on some bananas.
Detailing the account in his book, ‘Cooking & The Crown’, Tom wrote: “The meat course had gone up, when she suddenly realised there was no pudding. I can remember there was a certain amount of panic about what to do next. Save, that is, for a few bananas.”
Dubbed ‘Bananes au Caramel’, this straightforward but tasty creation by Alma requires just the following ingredients:
- Bananas
- Caster sugar
- Butter
- Golden syrup
- Double cream
For those eager to experiment with some royal cooking, Tom outlines the process.
To kick things off, cut up the bananas and toss them in a bit of caster sugar—around two tablespoons worth. These sugary slices should then be gently fried in some butter over medium heat until they take on a caramelised colour.
Following this step, it’s essential to let the banana pieces sit for around 60 seconds before mixing them with around 100ml of double cream. For serving perfection, spoon them into sundae glasses and allow them to chill in the fridge.
And if you’re feeling extra indulgent, you might even make some caramel drizzle for the finishing touch. “Break the hardened syrup into small shards, sprinkle over the banana and serve immediately,” Tom wrote.
While ‘Bananes au Caramel’ is undoubtedly a very sugary dessert, bananas in general are often lauded by health experts for their various perks. This is primarily attributed to their hefty potassium levels – a mineral tied to possible reductions in blood pressure.
Right now, estimates suggest that approximately 4.2 million adults in England have undiagnosed high blood pressure. Left unmanaged, it can lead to serious health complications such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney dysfunction, and vascular dementia.
“Bananas are a great source of potassium, with a medium banana providing 10% of the DV,” experts at Healthline claim. “A 2017 study in mice also suggests that potassium may lower the risk of heart disease by 27%. Additionally, bananas contain 8% of the DV for magnesium, another important mineral for heart health.”
Tom’s book, ‘Cooking and The Crown,’ boasts more than 100 culinary delights spanning from Queen Victoria’s era to King Charles III’s reign, according to the Express. Although it includes some extravagant dishes like ‘Pommes Elizabeth’ and ‘Pudding au Pain et aux Cerises’, there are plenty of simpler dishes to try at home.
More information can be found here.