Hungry Brits should stop enjoying mayonnaise in their tuna sandwiches and switch it for two ingredients that “enhance” the flavour, it’s been suggested. Darren McGrady is a former royal chef whose culinary expertise was enjoyed by the likes of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry for an impressive 15 years.
Having cooked for five US Presidents, it’s safe to assume that Darren knows a thing or two about sandwiches. Yet, according to him, we’ve been approaching a lunchtime favourite all wrong. In what may come as something of a shock to some, the chef believes the classic sandwich combo of tuna and mayonnaise needs a pretty controversial tweak – scrapping the mayo altogether. Indeed, Darren claims that mayonnaise “really takes away” from the tuna’s flavour. Instead, he says we should be taking a leaf from King Charles’ book and find inspiration in an increasingly popular, heart-healthy diet.
Darren told Express.co.uk: “I think the mayo just really takes away from the flavour of the tuna. We should go back to what King Charles does with the Mediterranean diet.”
He then revealed two ingredients that will enhance the popular butty: “You just need a little olive oil and a splash of vinegar, and then some seasoning. That would really enhance the sandwich.”
One big advantage in swapping out mayonnaise, high in fat and calories, for olive oil is its health benefits. Olive oil is a staple of what many consider to be the world’s healthiest diet – the Mediterranean Diet – and is proven to improve heart health and reduce inflammation.
Tuna sandwiches are also a popular choice across the pond. In fact, the tuna salad butty is one of the most widely eaten lunch choices in the US. According to the National Fisheries Institute, Americans eat a staggering one billion pounds of tuna each year.
Interestingly, more than half of that (52 per cent) ultimately finds itself in tuna salad sandwiches. Meanwhile, in 2016, it was reported that an estimated 210 million tuna sandwiches were sold in the UK every year.
King Charles reportedly tends to eat a mostly plant-based diet and doesn’t eat lunch at all. In 2018, Clarence House unveiled a list of 70 facts to celebrate the then-Prince Charles’ 70th birthday.
The 20th fact definitively stated: “The Prince does not eat lunch.” Meanwhile, Gordon Rayner, a former royal correspondent at The Telegraph, previously said the King views lunch as a “luxury” that impacts his hectic schedule.
Yet, when it comes to light meals, it appears the King favours something a little more unorthodox than a tuna mayo sandwich. Two years later, in 2020, Clarence House revealed his favourite brunch option.
It seems that Charles is a fan of a delicacy known as “Cheesy Baked Eggs.” Clarence House shared a picture of them on Instagram, accompanied by a caption that revealed that they were one of the King’s “favourite recipes.”
It stated: “The Prince has also shared one of his favourite recipes, Cheesy Baked Eggs, which can be made by using any number of our great British cheeses.”
Darren spoke to Express.co.uk via Heart Bingo.