Fish Pie Fillets Food

EASY FISH PIE

Steps:

• Put your fish in a large, wide pan with a lid together with celery, carrot, onion (cut in half and each half studded with 2 cloves), bay leaves and peppercorns. Pour over the milk and place the pan on a gentle heat and bring it to a gentle boil (feel free to cover the pan to speed up the process but keep an eye on it). Uncover the pan and let the fish simmer gently in milk for approx. 5 min (longer if you are using frozen fillets). Take the fish off the heat and let it stand in the hot milk for 5-10 minutes to finish cooking.
• As your fish is cooking prepare the potatoes by peeling them, cutting into chunks and boiling them in a pan of salted water until tender and ready to be mashed 15-20 min.
• Take your poached fish out of the hot milk with slotted spoon and onto a dish you'll be using for a pie. Flake it gently into small pieces and set aside. Strain the milk you used to cook your fish in onto a jug discarding all the veg and aromatics.
• In the same pan you poached fish in melt 50g unsalted butter, add the flour and let it cook in butter for a few seconds until it looks like a paste. Slowly add strained milk mixing gently with a whisk after each addition until you use up all the milk and the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper and few gratings of fresh nutmeg (to taste). Pour over the flaked fish. *Depending on the dish you are using you might have some sauce leftover which can be added to your mashed potato topping for extra creaminess.*
• Add frozen peas or sweetcorn or mixture of both to the fish and the sauce and mix well. Sprinkle some fresh parsley or dill and place your boiled egg halves on top (if adding).
• Drain potatoes and mash with 50g unsalted butter and a good splash of milk or some leftover white sauce (if any) for extra creaminess adjusting seasoning if needed. Top the pie with the mash making sure you spread it evenly, sealing neatly around the edges to prevent the filling bubbling over during baking. Sprinkle with some grated cheddar and bake in preheated oven at 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 for approx 30 minutes (until golden and bubbly). Enjoy with some extra peas or other veg of your choice on the side!

FAMILY MEALS: EASY FISH PIE RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas mark 6.
• Put 1kg potatoes, peeled and halved, in a saucepan and pour over enough water to cover them. Bring to the boil and then simmer until tender.
• When cooked, drain thoroughly and mash with a splash of milk and a knob of butter. Season with ground black pepper.
• Put 25g butter, 25g plain flour and 4 finely sliced spring onions in another pan and heat gently until the butter has melted, stirring regularly. Cook for 1-2 mins.
• Gradually whisk in 400ml milk using a balloon whisk if you have one. Bring to the boil, stirring to avoid any lumps and sticking at the bottom of the pan. Cook for 3-4 mins until thickened.
• Take off the heat and stir in 320g-400g mixed fish, 1 tsp Dijon or English mustard, a small bunch of finely snipped chives, handful of sweetcorn and handful of petits pois. Spoon into an ovenproof dish or 6-8 ramekins.
• Spoon the potato on top and sprinkle with a handful of grated cheddar cheese.
• Pop in the oven for 20-25 mins or until golden and bubbling at the edges. Alternatively, cover and freeze the pie or mini pies for another time.

LUXE FISH PIE

Steps:

• Place the fish fillets in a large, wide saucepan and pour over the milk. Add the onion wedges and bay leaves, tucking them in around the fish. Bring to a very gentle simmer, then cover with a lid and remove from the heat immediately. Leave to stand and infuse for 10 mins or until the fish is just cooked. Drain the fish in a colander over a large jug to reserve the infused milk, then tip the fish into a bowl. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the topping. Put the potatoes in a large saucepan of cold water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins or until the potatoes are soft but not falling apart. Drain well, return to the pan and mash with the butter, half the cheese and the crème fraîche until smooth. Season to taste and set aside.
• To finish the filling, melt the butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for a few secs, then gradually add the infused milk, stirring over a medium heat for 3 mins until the sauce is smooth and thick. Stir in the spinach and wine or vermouth, if using, and cook for 2 mins more. Remove from the heat and stir in the dill. Season to taste.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Spoon a third of the sauce into the base of a 3-litre shallow rectangular dish. Scatter half the fish fillets over the sauce, breaking them into chunky pieces and discarding the skin, any stray bones, onion and bay leaves as you go. Pour over another third of the sauce, then top with more fish. Continue the layers once more, finishing with sauce.
• Spoon the potato over the fish mixture, starting at the edges. Swirl the potato with the back of a spoon and sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Place the dish on a baking tray and bake in the centre of the oven for 45 mins or until the potato is golden and the filling is bubbling.

FISH PIE FILLETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Put the fish onto a non-stick baking sheet and season all over. Mix the dill and soft cheese in a small bowl, then stir in the prawns, taking care not to break them up. Season with black pepper, then spread evenly over the fish.
• Brush the filo sheets with the oil, then cut into thick strips. Scrunch the pastry up a little and crumple on top of the fish. Scatter with parmesan, then bake for 10 mins until the fish is cooked through and the pastry is crisp and golden. (If you've used raw prawns, check they're cooked through.) Serve with green beans or a salad with your choice of potatoes.

FISH PIE - IN FOUR STEPS

Steps:

• Poach 400g skinless white fish fillets and 400g skinless smoked haddock fillets. Put the fish in the frying pan and pour over 500ml of the full-fat milk. Quarter 1 small onion and stud each quarter with a clove, then add to the milk, with 2 bay leaves. Bring the milk just to the boil - you will see a few small bubbles. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8 mins. Lift the fish onto a plate and strain the milk into a jug to cool. Flake the fish into large pieces in the baking dish.
• Hard-boil 4 eggs. Bring a small pan of water to a gentle boil, then carefully lower the eggs in with a slotted spoon. Bring the water back to a gentle boil, with just a couple of bubbles rising to the surface. Set the timer for 8 mins, cook, then drain and cool in a bowl of cold water. Peel, slice into quarters and arrange on top of the fish, then scatter over the chopped leaves of a small bunch of parsley.
• Make the sauce. Melt 50g butter in a pan, stir in 50g plain flour and cook for 1 min over moderate heat. Take off the heat, pour in a little of the cold poaching milk, then stir until blended. Continue to add the milk gradually, mixing well until you have a smooth sauce. Return to the heat, bring to the boil and cook for 5 mins, stirring continually, until it coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat, season with salt, pepper and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg, then pour over the fish.
• Assemble and bake. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Boil 1kg floury potatoes, cut into even-sized chunks, for 20 mins. Drain, season and mash with the remaining 50g butter and 100ml full-fat milk. Use to top the pie, starting at the edge of the dish and working your way in - push the mash right to the edges to seal. Fluff the top with a fork, sprinkle over 50g grated cheddar, then bake for 30 mins. Make up to a day ahead, chill, then bake for 40 mins.