The Fish pie, also known as fisherman’s pie, is a traditional British dish probably created to use up fish scraps during Lent.
The pie is usually made with fresh and smoked fish (e.g., cod, haddock, salmon, or halibut) or seafood in a white sauce or cheddar cheese sauce using the milk in which the fish was cooked.
Sometimes parsley or chives are added to the sauce.
Baked in the oven in a deep dish, it is not covered with the puff pastry crust associated with most savory pies.
Instead: a topping of mashed potatoes (sometimes with cheese or vegetables like onions and leeks) to cover the fish during baking, as happens with Shepherd’s pie (therefore it is often called fisherman’s pie).
Serve the fish pie with peas or other fresh vegetables for a complete meal.
We tried it during our trip to Cornwall in December 2024 (see photo below).
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop, Oven
- Cuisine: English
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup milk
- 2/3 cup fish stock
- 12 oz fish cut into pieces (cod, haddock, salmon and/or halibut)
- 1 leaf bay
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 leek
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 1/2 lbs mashed potatoes (hot)
- to taste cheddar (grated – optional)
- to taste parsley
- to taste salt and pepper
Steps
Pour the fish stock and milk into a large pot and bring to a gentle simmer.
Add the pieces of fish and the bay leaf and let cook for 5 minutes.
Remove the pieces of fish with a slotted spoon and set them aside. Keep the liquid in the pot.
Melt the butter in a pan. Add the sliced leek and cook for 5 minutes.
While still hot, add the flour and mix well with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes.
Pour the fish cooking liquid into the pan and mix again. Raise the temperature and cook for 3 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened.
Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaf, and add the cooked fish and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour the fish mixture into a baking dish. Cover with a thick layer of mashed potatoes and roughen it with a fork.
Sprinkle with grated cheese (optional).
Bake in the center of the preheated oven at 350°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling under the potatoes.
