Fish pie - in four steps

Delicious and easy - a fish pie anyone can make. You'll learn how to poach fish and make a white sauce too

Recipe uploaded by

Good Food

128 ratings 5

Recipe by Good Food

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - 3 issues for £3

Tested

Difficulty and servings

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Prep 45 mins

Cook 30 mins

Freeze without eggs only

Poach the fish. Put the fish in the frying pan and pour over 500ml of the milk. Stud each onion quarter with a clove, then add to the milk, with the 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 the 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 parsley.
Make the sauce. Melt half the butter in a pan, stir in the 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, bringto 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 nutmeg, then pour over the fish.
Assemble and bake. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Boil the potatoes for 20 mins. Drain, season and mash with the remaining butter and 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 with cheese, then bake for 30 mins. Make up to a day ahead, chill, then bake for 40 mins.

Different flavours

Seafood: Add 200g raw peeled king prawns to the baking dish along with the poached fish. Salmon & dill: Replace the smoked haddock with 400g skinless salmon fillets, and use dill instead of the parsley. Fish & vegetable: Add 100g each frozen peas and sweetcorn to the baking dish before pouring over the sauce

Per serving

824 kcalories, protein 60g, carbohydrate 61g, fat 40 g, saturated fat 22g, fibre 4g, sugar 10g, salt 3,12 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2007.

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

Killian

27 November 2007

Killian rated this recipe

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Julia

18 December 2007

Julia rated and commented on this recipe

I've made this several times, omitting the eggs and including raw peeled prawns. It's now a firm favourite.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Rosie

20 December 2007

Rosie commented on this recipe

I cannot cook AT ALL and attempted this last night. The recipe was very easy to follow and tasted absolutely delicious!! I didn't put the eggs in either (I forgot to buy them!) but added some prawns instead. I feel very proud of myself today! :-)

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Rosie

20 December 2007

Rosie rated this recipe

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Sam

20 January 2008

Sam rated and commented on this recipe

I did not put the eggs in either. Very easy recipe. I did 6 small ones and froze three.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
jana

25 January 2008

jana rated and commented on this recipe

Made this last night. Great family meal although kids not sure about the eggs! can't wait to make it again.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
susie

01 February 2008

susie commented on this recipe

really didn't like this recipe, the eggs spoiled it, have tried it without the eggs, much better by far !!!!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
SRoberts

14 March 2008

SRoberts rated and commented on this recipe

Delicious! I left out the eggs and used sweetcorn & peas - so tasty - will def be making again.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Heather

29 March 2008

Heather rated and commented on this recipe

Gorgeous! Rooted through the freezer and found a monkfish tail, a skate wing and a cod fillet to use with with the smoked haddock for this recipie. My partner gave me some odd looks with the selection of fish that I'd chosen, but the result was a wonderful fish supper that we enjoyed with friends on Good Friday. Everyone loved it. Would definitely make this again.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
jens86

31 March 2008

jens86 commented on this recipe

Didn't add the eggs either due to comments from other people! This was really good, although I used a lot more milk than the recipe called for and I'm glad I did because the sauce was just right. My partner loved it :)

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Zoe

07 April 2008

Zoe rated and commented on this recipe

I didnt add the eggs either. this fish pie was easy and lovely the nugmeg really made it we will make it again.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Karen

05 May 2008

Karen commented on this recipe

My four year old's favourite meal! I leave out eggs, use hake and smoked trout, and add chopped chives. Yum!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
chesty

31 May 2008

chesty rated and commented on this recipe

My 12yr old son makes this regularly , but omits the egg and adds chopped deseeded tomatoes and spring onions. If I'd just put it in front of him, he'd have turned his nose up at it, but, because he helped make it the first time, it is now a firm favourite. We leave off the cheese too, but put plenty of seasoning in the mash.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Louise

03 June 2008

Louise commented on this recipe

I'm not really a big fish fan but were having midweek dinner guests so I wanted something easy and different. This was brilliant. I used haddock, smoked mackeril and prawns and the flavour was wonderful. As people had sugested about I left out the eggs. Will not hesitate to make this again!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Tilly

06 June 2008

Tilly commented on this recipe

Have made this with different white and smoked fish, try coley for a change, it's a cheaper fish and sometimes over looked, it's not as white as haddock or cod but in a fish pie it doesn't matter, done it with and without eggs and hubby and I prefer it with eggs.grate some nutmeg in with the mash, yes I agree, leave out the cheese.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Picklepea

28 June 2008

Picklepea rated and commented on this recipe

Delicious recipe and very easy! Unlike most posters i 'did' add the eggs as all my old fish recipe does and it adds a depth of flavour...however I did mash them rather than quarter of them. I used cod, smoked haddock and prawns - and my whole family enjoyed it - will use again most definately!!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Angela

11 July 2008

Angela rated and commented on this recipe

I have barely cooked anything in my life but this fish pie was amazing and so easy to follow. It went down a treat and my baby and toddler loved it too.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
SteveR

21 July 2008

SteveR rated and commented on this recipe

Great recipe simple to cook. Delicious I will be making it again.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
clacketwood

16 August 2008

clacketwood rated and commented on this recipe

Ive also made this several times without the eggs. I think it tastes as good, after its been frozen

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
egglover

20 August 2008

egglover commented on this recipe

This is a family favourite, however I make sure I add additional eggs to this recipe as I can't get enough of that great eggy taste. After all a fish pie isn't a fish pie without boiled eggs!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason: