Cheesy Fish Pie by Jane Devonshire
This Cheesy Fish Pie Recipe by Jane Devonshire is definitely a hassle free recipe, not to mention it’s gluten free so coeliac friendly too!
There are many ways to adapt this recipe, from the fish to the potatoes. It uses a variety of different fish and seafood, but don’t be limited to what is mentioned below, use what you have to hand. Why not try sweet potato or cauliflower mash instead of regular potatoes? The possibilities are many!
We hope you enjoy!
Kids in the Kitchen
Peel – There are a lot of potatoes that need peeling for the mash in this recipe. Kids often love to do seemingly adult tasks thinking they are fun but if your kids need help making this ‘work’ fun try having a competition to make the longest potato skin ribbon and the winner gets a ______________(you fill in the blank).
Cornflour – Cornflour and water mixing is an age old experiment loved by young and old! It is very tactile and a great sensory play option. Either let your kiddos have their own tray of the cornflour and add small amounts of the water gradually, or let them help mix it in a mug below to help thicken the milk.
Recipe Courtesy Jane Devonshire MasterChef Champion 2016
Serves: 4-6
Difficulty: Easy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g Filleted Cod, Skinned (Haddock or other white fish is fine)
- 500 g Smoked Cod Fillet, Skinned (Again Haddock would be fine)
- 200 g pack of Atlantic cold water prawns (use the large farmed ones if you want I just like the little cold water ones better)
- 900 ml milk, semi skimmed is fine
- 150 g strong cheddar grated
- 150 g Parmesan grated
- 1.5Kg King Edward potatoes peeled
- 6 tbsp cornflour
- Cold Water
- 2 Bay Leaves
- Salt and Pepper
- Large knob of butter
Cooking Method
1. Peel the potatoes, chop and place into water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender for mashing.
2. Whilst potatoes are cooking, put milk into a large pan and place onto stove top to simmer add the bay leaves.
3. Put the cod loin and smoked cod into the milk make sure its covered. If not possible do in two batches. Simmer the fish until it just starts to cook and still a little translucent.
4. Remove fish using a slotted spoon and place into your baking dish (do not discard the milk keep it in the pan). Gently flake it across the dish mixing the smoked and plain fish fillet evenly. Keep in chunks as we want to keep texture.
5. Put the cornflour into a mug and mix with enough water or cold milk to form a smooth paste a bit thicker than double cream.
6. Bring the fishy milk to the boil carefully stirring its quite easy to catch and burn it. Add the cornflour and stir until milk is bubbling and a thicker consistency. It should coat the back of the spoon. Quickly add in the cheeses and stir to combine.
7. If there are a few bits of cheese not dissolved don’t worry they will do so in the oven but you should now have a lovely thick cheese sauce.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste be careful with the salt the smoked fish is very salty. Remove the bay leaves.
9. Gently pour the cheese sauce over the fish and evenly distribute the prawns over the top.
10. Mash the potatoes with a large knob of butter and a spoon at a time evenly distribute over the top of the pie. Use a fork to fluff up and place in an oven gas mark 6. 180 for 30 minutes until the top is golden brown.
To Serve:
1. Jane loves to serve this with purple sprouting broccoli, steamed spinach or another dark green but choose the veg you love. This recipe is gluten free, as she uses cornflour to thicken the cheese sauce but please feel free to make your cheese sauce the traditional way using a roux.