Easy Peasy Fish on Friday Recipe: Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

Easy Peasy Fish on Friday Recipe: Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

Easy Peasy Fish on Friday Recipe:

Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

Easy Peasy Fish on Friday Recipe: Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

I have a feeling that this post should have been called Foggy Friday, as for most of this week, we have been shrouded in fog, and trips to the hen-house in the morning have been damp and strangely eerie, with muffled thuds and drips punctuating the foggy silence, as fruit falls to the ground and dark leafless branches shake off their watery load, JUST as I walk past – I am sure they wait for me to walk under them and then have a good old “doggy shake”……or maybe it’s my damp imagination! Anyway, there was a bright highlight to one of my days, when a BIG box of fresh Scottish fish arrived for me, from John at Delish Fish.  Most of my readers will know that  I am a Fish Fanatic, and I always try to eat fish at least three times a week, and always on Friday – it’s an old tradition that I am happy to keep alive. So, my fishy treasure arrived just in time for Friday and a damp foggy day, which can only mean one thing, COMFORT FOOD and FISH PIE! 

Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

Now, I DO have several fish pie recipes on the blog, such as – Old-Fashioned Fish Pie with Cheesy Mash and Yorkshire Fish Pie with a Rosti Potato Topping, but I am working on some new family friendly fish recipes with John (Delish Fish) at the moment, so I have been in my “development kitchen” lately, and today’s recipe, Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie, is my latest offering; a recipe that is QUICK and SIMPLE, but with bags of flavour, and just goes to prove that fish IS the best fast food, as this comforting dish is on the table (from start to finish) in forty minutes, and unlike most ready meals you can purchase from the freezer section, you have total control over all of the ingredients that go into this recipe, and there aren’t that many. It’s a all-in-one fish pie recipe, with NO need to make a white sauce…..and yet the results are fabulously fishy, do excuse my alliteration today! 

Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

This recipe is the first on a series of special family recipes I am creating, and look out for a wonderful new Giveaway next week, where I will have a box of Family Friendly Fish up for grabs……courtesy of Delish Fish. Although I have suggested smoked haddock in this recipes, do use other fish if you are not keen on smoked fish……such as a mix of smoked haddock and hake maybe, or just cod;  however, in my experience, children love the subtle flavour of smoked fish, and the sooner they taste it, the more they will enjoy fish in all recipes and meals – it’s easy to eat and there’s no chewing involved! You can make this in one big family pie dish, or make it in smaller individual ramekins (for the wee ones) and small pie dishes for the adults. There is not need for extra veggies on the side, as there are leeks in this fish pie, but I do love a spoonful of peas or some steamed Savoy cabbage with mine…..it’s up to you.

Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

The recipe for this tasty and easy to make pie is below. Look out for more Fabulous Family Fishy Feasts over the next few weeks, and have a Fab Fishy Friday – hopefully not in the fog! Karen

Delish Fish Smoked Haddock

Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

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Serves	4
Prep time	20 minutes
Cook time	20 minutes
Total time	40 minutes
Allergy	Fish, Milk
Meal type	Lunch, Main Dish
Misc	Child Friendly, Serve Hot
Occasion	Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Halloween
Region	British
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

These easy to make pies are perfect for a family supper or lunch dish; children love them, and there is no need to serve any extra vegetables on the side, as there are leeks in the fish pie mixture, although peas and steamed Savoy cabbage makes a nice accompaniment. The smoked haddock gives these pies a lovely subtle flavour without being overpowering, but DON'T use the bright yellow dyed haddock, naturally smoked is best. If you want to add a little extra to these pies, although I think they are just lovely as they are, you can add a chopped boiled egg to the mixture or a few capers. Fish is the original fast food, and these easy pies can be prepared and on the table in 40 minutes. Salmon, cod, hake or haddock can be used in place of smoked haddock, or a mixture of fish.

Ingredients

• 750g potatoes (peeled and diced)
• 2 leeks (cleaned, halved and finely diced)
• 50g butter (25g for the potatoes and 25g for the leeks)
• 2 to 3 smoked haddock fillets, about 250g to 300g in weight (skinned and boned, I use Delish Fish, which is ready to cook)
• 150ml milk
• 1 bay leaf
• black pepper to taste
• 50g grated Scottish Cheddar cheese (I used Isle of Mull )
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• parsley (to garnish)

Note

These easy to make pies are perfect for a family supper or lunch dish; children love them, and there is no need to serve any extra vegetables on the side, as there are leeks in the fish pie mixture, although peas and steamed Savoy cabbage makes a nice accompaniment. The smoked haddock gives these pies a lovely subtle flavour without being overpowering, but DON'T use the bright yellow dyed haddock, naturally smoked is best. If you want to add a little extra to these pies, although I think they are just lovely as they are, you can add a chopped boiled egg to the mixture or a few capers. Fish is the original fast food, and these easy pies can be prepared and on the table in 40 minutes. Salmon, cod, hake or haddock can be used in place of smoked haddock, or a mixture of fish.

Directions

Step 1	Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Grease a large pie dish/tin or individual pie dishes. (ramekin dishes for the children)
Step 2	Boil the potatoes until soft and easy to mash, add the butter and mash well, until there are no lumps.
Step 3	Meanwhile, poach the smoked haddock fillets with the milk and bay leaf in a large saucepan, it will only take about 5 to 8 minutes, do not over cook - the fish is cooked when it is opaque and flakes easily; take off the heat and allow to cool slightly in the milk. Drain before adding the potato mixture.
Step 4	Add the remaining butter to a frying pan and heat gently, then add the finely diced leeks and cook over a gentle heat until they are just soft, but are still bright green and hold their shape..
Step 5	Season the mashed potatoes to taste with black pepper, but no salt, as the smoked haddock will be salty. Add the leeks and gently mix through, before adding the cooled, flaked smoked haddock - mix gently as not to break the fish up too much and check the seasoning. If the mixture is too stiff, loosen it a little with some of the poaching milk.
Step 6	Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish or dishes; sprinkle the grated cheese and breadcrumbs over the top and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is golden brown.
Step 7	Serve immediately with parsley as a garnish and seasonal greens or peas.

Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

Happy Birthday to Fish the Dish today! One year old already!

Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

Disclaimer: This is a non-sponsored post and I was not paid to promote the fish mentioned on my blog in any shape or form. With thanks to John at  Delish Fish for sending me this fish to try. Karen S Burns-Booth