Fish Pie
A grand Fish Pie, fit for a king yet economical to make! Chunks of fish flakes smothered in a creamy white sauce, topped with mashed potato then baked until golden. Use a combination of both smoked and raw unsmoked fish for optimum flavour and texture. Fresh tarragon is also optional
Ingredients
FISH
- ▢ 400 g / 14 oz smoked fish of choice
- ▢ 400 g / 14 oz raw unsmoked fish of choice I used Perch
- ▢ 3 cups / 750 ml milk low fat or full fat
- ▢ 1 brown onion quartered
- ▢ 4 cloves optional
WHITE SAUCE:
- 50 g / 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves minced
- ▢ 1/2 small onion finely chopped
- ▢ 1 small carrot finely chopped
- ▢ 1 small celery stick finely chopped
- ▢ 1/3 cup / 50g plain flour all purpose flour, Note 11 for GF
- ▢ 1 tbsp fresh tarragon finely chopped (optional)
- ▢ 2 tbsp parsley finely chopped
- ▢ Salt and pepper
POTATO TOPPING:
- ▢ 750 g / 1.5 lb floury potatoes peeled and cut into 2.5cm / 1" pieces (Note 5)
- ▢ 30 g / 2 tbsp+ unsalted butter
- ▢ 1/2 cup / 125 ml milk any fat %
PIE:
- ▢ 1 cup frozen peas
- ▢ 4 hard boiled eggs quartered (optional) (Note 6)
- ▢ 30 g / 2 tbsp butter melted
- ▢ 1/4 cup / 15g grated parmesan cheese optional
- ▢ Finely chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
FISH:
- Push a clove into the skin of each onion. Place in a pot or large skillet, add milk, turn stove onto medium high heat.
- When milk is barely simmering, add fish - don't worry if it's not entirely covered, it can be turned / moved around.
- Poach fish for 7 minutes, then use a slotted spoon to transfer fish straight into a medium baking dish (Note 8).
- Flake into chunks using forks. Remove bones if you see any.
- Use slotted spoon to remove onion and cloves from milk, discard. RESERVE milk.
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Boil water for potatoes.
SAUCE
- Melt butter in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Then add celery and carrot, cook for 5 minutes until carrot is soft.
- Turn heat down to medium low. Add flour, mix in - it will look gluey.
- Add half the milk and quickly start mixing. Once incorporated, the mixture will thicken quickly. Add remaining milk and stir. (Video helpful here)
- Turn heat up to medium and keep stirring until the mixture thickens to the consistency of honey - about 3 minutes. (Note 7)
- Take it off the heat, stir through tarragon and parsley. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
PIE
- Scatter top of flaked fish with peas, then pour over the Sauce. GENTLY stir through (don't want fish to turn into mush!).*
- Smooth top, then nestle egg in all over the pie.
MASHED POTATO
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes or until soft. (Do this while making the Sauce).
- Drain potato, add butter, milk, salt and pepper. Mash until creamy - add more milk if required.
- Immediately dollop then spread onto pie (cold mash = hard to spread).
- Use fork to draw squiggles on surface (rough surface = better golden bits).
BAKE PIE
- Drizzle surface with melted butter, sprinkle with parmesan.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until top is deep golden.
- Stand for 5 minutes before serving, garnished with parsley if desired. See notes for reheating and make ahead.
Notes
This recipe is sponsored by Mediterranean Supermarket