An Easy Guide to Crafting the Perfect Fish Pie Meal

Introduction

Cooking a delicious Fish Pie doesn't have to be difficult. In actuality, it's much easier than you may imagine. Just follow our easy guide, and you'll be tucking into a scrumptious pie in no time.

Ingredients:

1 large Cod filet, skinned and cubed

1 large Hake filet, skinned and cubed

250 ml milk

50 ml double cream

1 onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 bay leaf

1 thyme sprig

75 g butter

100 g flour

salt and black pepper to taste

To serve:

100 g mashed potato per person

milk and butter to glaze

chopped parsley to garnish

Key Ingredients for Fish Pie

There are a few key ingredients that you'll need to make a delicious Fish Pie. The base of the pie is made with white fish such as cod or haddock. You'll also need potatoes, butter, milk and some salt and pepper to season.

For the topping you can use any variety of vegetables that you like. My personal favorite is a mixture of corn peas and carrots. But you could also use broccoli green beans or any other vegetables that you have on hand.

Once you have all of your ingredients ready it's time to get cooking.

Equipment for Making Fish Pie

You will need:

1 large saucepan

1 deep pie dish or casserole dish

Foil

A fork

Ingredients for the filling:

450g (1lb) white fish, such as cod, haddock or plaice, skinned and boned

175g (6oz) peeled and cooked prawns

50g (2oz) butter

1 large onion, chopped

225g (8 ounces) of peeled and sliced potatoes

150ml (¼ pint) semi-skimmed milk

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons lemon juice

To taste, add salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Ingredients for the topping:

100g (4oz) self-raising flour

50g (2oz) butter

25g (1oz) Parmesan cheese, grated

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Fish Pie

Now that you know all about fish pie, it's time to learn how to make one. This easy guide will take you through the steps, with photos to help you every step of the way.

You'll need:

1 lb fish filets (pike, cod, haddock or salmon)

1 onion

1 carrot

2 potatoes

650 ml milk

50 ml double cream

25 ml white wine

2 tb sp butter

2 tb sp flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

handful of fresh parsley, chopped

Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees C)

Peel and chop the onion and carrot. The potatoes should be peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces.

Put the fish fillets in a baking pan that has been buttered.Season with salt and pepper.

Layer the vegetables over the top of the fish.

In a saucepan, heat up the milk, double cream and white wine until it begins to simmer.

In a separate pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour until it forms a paste. Add this to the simmering milk mixture and cook until thickened.

Pour the sauce over the vegetables in the baking dish. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and bake for 40 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.

Tips for Adding Unique Flavors and Textures


Once you’ve settled on your main ingredients, the real fun begins. Now you can really personalize your fish pie with unique flavors and textures. Here are a few tips that can help you create the perfect fish pie dish.

Try adding various herbs and spices for flavor, such as thyme, oregano, dill, or bay leaf.

Make sure to season the filling aggressively—it will help to bring out the flavors of all the ingredients.

For some crunch, try adding nuts like walnuts or almonds as well as breadcrumbs on top of the fish layered in the dish.

Lastly, don’t forget to add some veggies! Vegetables like peas or carrots will add depth and color to your fish pie.

By experimenting with different flavors and textures and making it your own concoction, you’ll end up with a hearty and flavorful meal.

How to Keep Your Fish Pie From Getting Soggy

Now, let’s talk about avoiding a soggy fish pie. The key here is to make sure that your fish pie mixture doesn’t contain too much liquid. To do this, start by patting the fish filets dry with paper towels and adding just enough milk or stock to bring it all together think about it as adding enough liquid for flavor but not having so much that it’s going to make your pie soggy.

When cooking your vegetables, be sure not to overcook them because that can release excess liquid as well. You can also try adding ingredients like lemon zest, capers or herbs, which are all great flavors that will help season the fish and absorb some of the moisture.

Finally, make sure you are using a good quality pastry one that is made with butter is best and if you find the mixture to be too wet after adding in the fish and vegetables, don’t be afraid to add a tablespoon of flour or cornstarch. These two ingredients are great at absorbing any excess moisture and will help keep your pie from getting soggy.

Serving Suggestions for Your Finished Fish Pie


Once you've assembled and baked your masterpiece it's time to serve it up
One of the great things about Fish Pie is that there are endless possibilities for delicious topping combinations.

If you’re looking for a classic combination, try sprinkling a mixture of smoked paprika, garlic powder and parmesan cheese on top of the crust. Or for a lighter option you can mix together some dill and melted butter and spread it over the top. If you'd like to add some crunchy texture you can also sprinkle some crushed crackers or dry croutons over the top.

Finally, don't forget to consider your side dishes! Some of my favorite accompaniments are steamed vegetables like asparagus or broccoli with a bit of butter to bring out their flavor. Or if you’re feeling indulgent why not try serving it with a side of french fries or potato wedges?

However you choose to serve it your finished Fish Pie will be a surefire crowd-pleaser enjoy.

Conclusion


The next time you want to make a great-tasting Fish Pie meal, just follow these simple steps and you’ll be good to go.