Creamy Leek Potato Cheddar Chive Fish Pie Food

CREAMY FISH & LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick each potato a few times with a knife (to prevent them from bursting) and bake on a baking tray for 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins or until soft when pressed. Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash it with a fork or ricer. Save the skins for another day. While the potato is still hot, mix in the cream and milk to make a smooth mash, season and set aside.
• While the potatoes are baking, make the fish pie mix. Put a large frying pan on a medium heat. Melt the butter and cook the leeks slowly for 10 mins until they are sweet and tender, then season and add the nutmeg. Stir in the mustard, then pour in the wine and reduce until there is almost no wine left. Pour in the cream and simmer for about 10 mins until reduced by half. Remove from the heat, and add the chives along with the lemon juice and zest. Taste for seasoning.
• Stir the haddock, salmon and prawns into the creamed leeks and transfer to a medium baking dish, then top with the mashed potato, smooth over to cover the fish, and scatter over the cheeses. Bake for 25-30 mins until the cheese has turned golden brown.

FISH PIE WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Make mashed potatoes. Put the potatoes in plenty of water and add a hefty pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Use this time to chop and prep things.
• While the potatoes are cooking, bring the 1 cup each of milk and heavy cream to the steaming point in a medium pot, and drop the fish in to poach. Let this cook gently for 10 minutes, then lift out the fish. When it's cool enough to handle, flake it. Reserve the milk-cream mixture. Flake out the smoked fish, too.
• By now your potatoes should be ready. Drain them. Set the pot back on the stove over low heat, then put the potatoes back in the pot to steam out a little. This removes excess moisture. Shake the pan a little to prevent the potatoes from sticking too much. Add the butter and mash them. Mash well, adding cream or milk as needed to make them nice and smooth. Add salt to taste, turn off the heat, and set this aside.
• In a large sauté pan, add the 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. When it's hot, add the leeks and cook, stirring often, until they're soft, but not browned.
• Add the flour to the pan with the leeks, mixing well. It will seize up, and that's OK. Keep it moving for a couple minutes to cook off the raw flour taste. Slowly pour in the wine or beer, stirring constantly. It will make a paste in the pan. Now add the milk-cream mixture you cooked the fish in little by little, stirring to combine. You want a sauce that is like thick gravy. You might not need all the mixture.
• Add the poached fish, smoked fish and seafood, along with the mustard, horseradish and herbs. Stir and cook this for a couple minutes to warm through, then turn off the heat.
• To make the pie or pies, spoon the filling into your ramekins, baking dishes or any shallow, oven-proof pan. Top with the mashed potatoes, then sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top. Since everything is cooked, you need only brown the topping in a toaster oven set to 400°F or put the pie or pies under the broiler. Be sure to put them on a baking sheet because the cheese often spills over the sides.

CREAMY POTATO AND LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Generously butter a 3-qt shallow baking dish. Cut a round of parchment paper to fit just inside a 12-inch heavy skillet, then set parchment aside.
• Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch pieces (you should have about 8 cups). Wash leeks.
• Cook leeks in butter with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, covered with parchment round, in skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel potatoes and slice crosswise 1/16 inch thick with slicer. Transfer to a large heavy pot with cream, milk, thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally (liquid will thicken). Stir in leeks, then transfer to baking dish.
• Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Gratin can be baked 2 days ahead and chilled. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes, then reheat, covered, in a 350°F oven until hot, about 30 minutes.

FISH POT PIE WITH LEEK, A CREAMY AND DELICIOUS COMFORT FOOD

Steps:

• Place the smoked haddock (skin side down) along with the other fish in a pan, and pour enough of the 20 oz of milk just to cover them. Remove the fish, bring the milk to a boil, then put the fish back in, reduce the heat, and simmer over low heat for 4 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the milk and allow to cool, then remove the skin from the smoked haddock. Strain the milk into the jug with the milk from the original amount, and set aside.
• Put the potatoes in a pot and cover with water with 3/4 tsp Kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 13 minutes or until they are ready, then drain thoroughly. While the potatoes are cooking...
• In another pot over medium high heat, add one tablespoon of butter and leeks, and sauté for a few minutes until the leeks are a bit transparent, but not brown. Remove the leeks and set aside.
• Put the other tablespoon of butter into the pan, then add the flour. Cook for a few minutes without browning or the flour will taste raw. Begin adding a little of the measured milk into the pan a little at a time. Mix it well each time before adding more.
• Continue adding the milk until it's finished.
• When the sauce is ready, add about 1/2 tsp salt and some white pepper, then add the leeks.
• Flake the cooled fish into pieces.
• Next, add the fish to the sauce with the leeks and still well, but try not to break the pieces of fish any more. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust as needed.
• Spoon into ramekins and allow to cool while mashing the potatoes which should be ready.
• Mash the potatoes while still hot, adding salt, butter (I add about an ounce) and about 2 ounces of milk. If not soft and creamy, add more butter or milk, and salt if needed. Add a beaten egg after the potatoes have cooled a little and mix well.
• Either pipe the potatoes onto the fish pot pie in the ramekins or baking dish. I used a 1M tip.
• Or spoon the mashed potatoes on evenly and spread with a fork. I do prefer piping, but the flavor is the same.
• Use the fork to decorate the top. Place on a baking tray for easier handling.
• Bake the fish pot pie in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the potato topping is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
• Serve and enjoy while hot! Be sure to warn diners that the ramekins are very hot, too.
• Children love these, too, so don't hesitate to make smaller ramekins for them.