Princess Diana Loved This Easy Meal So Much, She Ate It ‘2 or 3 Times a Week’

It’s not very often that you can say you’ve eaten like royalty, but thanks to former royal chef, Darren McGrady, we’ve been able to recreate more recipes from the British royal family than we ever thought possible. McGrady cooked in the royal kitchen for everyone from Queen Elizabeth II and then-Prince Charles to Princes William and Harry. However, maybe most famously, he was Princess Diana’s personal chef at Kensington Palace for years. 

After Princess Di’s death, McGrady released his first cookbook, “Eating Royally,” which is filled with more than 100 recipes from the palace kitchen. In the cookbook, McGrady shares some of Princess Diana’s favorite dishes, including Stuffed Peppers and Bread and Butter Pudding. Today, McGrady continues to reminisce on his time as “The Royal Chef” on his YouTube channel, where he recreates the Princess of Wales’ go-to dishes, as well as other traditional British fare. 

McGrady recently shared a recipe and story in a video affectionately named “When Princess Diana loved salmon before she hated salmon.”

Princess Diana’s Favorite Salmon Dish

Princess Di was eating salmon for lunch or dinner about “two or three times a week,” McGrady recalls in the video. So, when people asked the chef what the Princess’ favorite food was, he said salmon.

“About a week later, the Princess came into the kitchen and she said, ‘Darren, what’s for lunch today? Please tell me it’s not salmon. What is it with you chefs, all you’re serving right now is salmon everywhere I go,'” McGrady recalls in the video. “As soon as she’d had lunch and gone, I called the office and said, ‘It’s chicken, she loves chicken.'”

But, before the salmon fatigue, McGrady shared that Princess Diana loved his macadamia nut-crusted salmon, that he served over a bed of onions and bell peppers.

How To Make Princess Diana’s Favorite Salmon

McGrady’s salmon dish is quite simple to make with just a few ingredients—and is ready in less than 20 minutes. You can find the full recipe in the caption of McGrady’s video, but here is an overview of how he makes the crusted salmon Princess Diana loved so much.

First, you’ll lightly sear your salmon fillets, with the skin on, until golden brown. While the salmon sears, you’ll make the crust using macadamia nuts, lime juice and zest, cilantro, panko, melted butter, egg yolk, salt, and pepper. Pulse the crust together in a food processor until the nuts are crushed, but not too fine, and the mixture is incorporated. Then, spoon the mixture onto each salmon fillet. 

Cook the salmon fillets in a 350-degree F (175-degree C) oven for about 10 minutes, until the fish is pink and the crust is browned. While the salmon bakes, McGrady sautés chopped onions and bell peppers with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Once the veggies soften, he adds honey and orange juice and reduces them to a syrupy texture. 

McGrady serves the crusted fish over the veggies with sriracha mayonnaise and arugula for garnish. 

Even if it wasn’t a Princess Diana favorite, this recipe would still make a delicious weeknight meal. But, knowing that the people’s princess loved it, too, means it moves up that much higher on our must-make recipe list.