For your information, kippers are halved, salted and smoked fish - Atlantic herring to be precise. Reminiscent of days gone by, kippers were a staple in the Edwardian breakfast along with toast, eggs and fried potatoes. The final nail in the coffin of their gradual demise was the increasing popularity of pre-packaged Breakfast food in the 1960's and 70's.

We’ll get this out of the way: if you’ve ever been in the vicinity of a cooked kipper you should know they can have a pretty fishy smell. And in an age of convenience, people are more squeamish about dealing with bony fish.

But don’t be put off- they’re tasty and there’s a lot of reasons to give them a try for breakfast!

  1. They’re super healthy
    This small oily fish makes a low calorie, high protein Breakfast. Not to mention that they’re high in Omega-3 fatty acids! Eating oily fish once or twice a week can reduce levels of fatty substances in your blood, reducing your risk of a heart attack.
    Kippers are a particularly good choice, as herring is one of the types of fish higher in Omega 3 fats and has lower Mercury levels.
    If you can conquer an aversion to bones you’ll get a good dose of Calcium and Vitamin D, which you need to support your muscles and for healthy bones.
    On top of that, kippers are also high in phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and vitamins B-12, A and E.
  2. They’re sustainable
    Consumers are becoming more ethically minded and many will be concerned by over-fishing. According to a report by the food organisation Sustain, kippers fall in the top 10 fish that have it all- high omega-3s, low levels of contamination and sustainably caught.
    Other sustainable fish include sardines, anchovies and mussels.
  3. They’re Cheap As Chips
    You can buy a bag of kippers for around the £1 mark in most supermarkets, which is a total steal considering that the price of fish is continually increasing.

How to eat kippers for Breakfast

  • You could be strictly old school and have them in a Full English breakfast with eggs, black pudding, mushrooms and tomatoes with toast.  It's essentially just a pescatarian fry up.
  • Take a leaf out of Kaspers at The Savoy, where kippers are a permanent feature on the breakfast menu and are served with bacon, croutons and lemon butter.
  • Mix up your kedgeree recipe by swapping haddock for kippers.
  • Go down the continental route and start your day with kippers drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice and sautéed onions.
  • Start the day with kippers in a Japanese breakfast! Traditional Japanese breakfasts are a labour of love, often comprising of steamed rice, miso soup, a plethora of side dishes and usually some type of fish. This is where kippers make their appearance! Japanese breakfasts often include sundried horse mackerel, which can be substituted with kippers if you’re cooking in the UK.

Alternatively, just keep it simple and enjoy with toast and butter!
 

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