Liverpool’s Claire Lara creates a dish in BBC One’s Coronation Dish contest

Liverpool’s Claire Lara is one of five chefs who is competing in BBC One’s The Coronation Dish – a food contest launched by The One Show to mark the Coronation of Their Majesties, The King and The Queen.

Claire won MasterChef: The Professionals in 2010 and her career has evolved to become one of Liverpool’s most innovative and long-standing culinary figures.

Announced during the programme last week, Alex Jones and Roman Kemp explained how The One Show is joining forces with the Queen of Cooking, Dame Mary Berry and the Coronation Big Lunch to vote for a Coronation dish that is perfect for celebrations up and down the country.

Claire Lara joins four other winners from BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu who have been invited to create one outstanding savoury dish in Their Majesties’ honour.

Claire now has quite possibly the biggest and by far the most exciting challenge of her culinary career – a chance for her King Oyster Mushroom Filo Tart recipe to be crowned The Coronation Dish by viewers of BBC’s The One Show.

Claire Lara's King Oyster Mushroom Filo Tart — Claire Lara’s King Oyster Mushroom Filo Tart

Dame Mary Berry said:

“I’m so excited about this. It’s our search for a Coronation Dish but it will be The One Show viewers who get to choose the ultimate winner. We want a dish that is perfect to share. Whether it’s for family, friends or simply at home.”

Viewers saw Claire showcase her dish in a special film which is and now lines are open for the public to vote, with Claire the only entrant from Liverpool. The winner of the contest will be revealed live on The One Show on Tuesday, May 2nd.

Claire said:

“I couldn’t believe it when I was asked if I could create a dish to potentially become a central part of the Coronation celebrations. The dish, a spanakopita, also touches on the King’s Greek heritage, with his father’s title of Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. This feels to me highly celebratory; certainly in our household, celebratory occasions always feature filo pastry on our dining table!

“The recipe is a reflection of the King, my vision for his reign, and also the nation’s future. I have chosen a vegetarian recipe due to the health benefits, as well as environmental and sustainability benefits of a vegetarian diet. Not only are environmental concerns of great importance for the nation as a whole, this is also a long-standing personal passion of the King.

“In addition to this, with the rising cost of living, there are cost benefits to having a diet weighted more towards vegetables than meat products.”

Claire is Head of Development at LEAF, ONE FINE DAY and OH ME OH MY in Liverpool, a series of independent tea rooms, restaurants and events spaces.

Claire added:

“Showcasing British and easily sourced produce was a key consideration in the recipe’s design, with British king oyster mushrooms and feta taking centre stage. It’s simple to make, requires only basic kitchen equipment and can be served as a main course or as part of a larger table of celebration food. It also does not require a large amount of gas or electricity which again I hope will enable the dish to be enjoyed by everybody.

“For me this is about representing Liverpool and how vibrant and creative our superb food and drink scene is. I’m so proud to have been selected as a finalist and as the north’s only entrant. This is a dish which I hope everyone will love and support.”