Mini Pie Revolution Event #3: Fish Pie

Fish pie is a traditional British dish, usually made with white fish (cod, haddock or halibut). It's oven baked in a pie dish but not usually made with the shortcrust or puff pastry toppings-- instead it's topped with mashed potatoes before baking.

Not being a traditionalist, and really wanting to make a fish pot pie for current Mini Pie Revolution event, I decided to put the potatoes in the filling and top it with a savory pie crust. Of course I could have just made Stargazey Pie, which does traditionally have a crust on top, but I really wasn't up to dealing with the little fish heads looking back at me.

I used a Jamie Oliver recipe, which he describes as "homely, comforting and moreish," adding that it's a "cracking recipe." We agree. The end result is surprisingly delicate in flavor, and very filling. Serve it with a green salad and a glass of dry crisp white wine and you're all set.

Fantastic Fish Pot Pie
adapted from a Jamie Oliver recipe
serves 6

6 potatoes, diced into 1-inch squares
2 eggs
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, halved and finely chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup heavy cream
2 good handfuls grated mature Cheddar or Parmesan
1 lemon, juiced
1 1/2 heaping teaspoons English mustard
1 large handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 pound haddock or fresh cod fillet, skin removed, pin-boned and sliced into strips
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Put the potatoes into salted boiling water and bring back to a boil. Carefully add the eggs to the pan and cook for about 8 minutes until hard boiled, by which time the potatoes should be just cooked. Drain the potatoes and set aside. Remove the eggs, cool under cold water, then peel and quarter them. Set aside.

In a separate pan slowly fry the onion and carrot in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes, then add the heavy cream, and bring just to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the cheese, lemon juice, mustard, and parsley.

Put the potatoes, fish and eggs into a bowl and mix them gently, seasoning with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into 6 small baking dishes or ramekins, pouring an equal amount of the creamy sauce over each.

Quickly make the pie crust:

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground tarragon
2 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk

In the bowl of a food processor, dump the flour, baking powder, ground tarragon and salt. Pulse a few times to combine. Drop in the butter and process until incorporated into the flour. Add the milk slowly, while processing, until it comes together. Remove from the processor, form into a ball and roll out. Use a large ring (make sure it's the right size for your baking dishes) to cut out 6 circles. Place a circle on top of each pot pie and cut an x in the center. Brush with a little beaten egg yolk thinned with water.

Place the pot pies on a baking sheet and then into the oven for about 25 - 30 minutes.

Comments

[Karyn]

Looking good!

[Scotty Harris]

If a meat pie topped with mashed potatoes is a shepherd's pie, is a fish pie a mariner's pie? Aquafarmer's pie? Piscator pie? Just wondering.

[Adele]

Mmm. This sounds great.

I like those serving bowls, btw. :)

[Manggy]

For a while there I had to check if it was really you, Ann :) How classically British! Thank you also for scarring me with the mental image of a stargazy pie, haha :)
I know I would just love this! Fish, cream, potatoes, pie.. What's not to love?

[Sophie]

That looks so good! I'm really in the mood for fish and mashed potatoes too, but then again, when am I not??

[We Are Never Full]

I love the idea of putting them in (what looks like to be) french onion soup bowls. We were craving fish pie the other night but couldn't be arsed making it. It's way too easy, so I've gotta tell my Brit to just roll up his sleeves and get to it next time!

Amy @ http://www.weareneverfull.com

[Donna]

Looks great! I'm not much for fish, growing up in Phoenix, AZ, but have developed a taste for it after living with a great cook - my husband. He fixes fish that is wonderful. Wonder if I can get him to try this?

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

I've never made fish pie at home, but these little pies remind me of the best pub food I've had while traveling in the UK.

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

I've never made fish pie at home, but these little pies remind me of the best pub food I've had while traveling in the UK.

[Pixie]

It's been a while since we had fish pie, think we should make a few individual ones this week- you certainly gave me a craving for it!

[Coco]

These sound delicious. So warm and comforting. And they look so wonderfully rustic in those bowls!

[Aran]

Ann, that looks fantastic. And I love the tarragon in the crust. Isn't Jamie Oliver the best? I wanted to enter this event but life got busy and I haven't had a chance. Next time!

[giz]

I've never had a fish pie - this could be very interesting

[Gretchen Noelle]

Creative. I would never have thought of a fish pie. But I did think of a fun one, I just need to get it posted between today and (gasp) tomorrow!

[yulinka]

Mmm. That looks good. I haven't thought a lot about fish pie lately, but when I was growing up my mom sometimes made pirozhki and a flaky pastry pie with fish filling (made with sauteed onions, cod, rice and scallions).

[Zenchef]

That certainly looks good! I name you the winner of the pot pie event..wait... you can't win your own event can you?

[Liz]

I have the Jamie Oliver recipe and was wondering if I could put a pie crust on top. Thanks for posting this, I can't wait to try it!