FABULOUS FISH PIE
Ingredients
- 600ml/1 pint 1fl oz full-fat milk
- 1 onion
- peeled and cut into sixths (keep the root intact)
- 2 bay leaves
- 500g/1lb 2oz thick white fish fillets
- such as cod
- haddock or pollock
- 500g/1lb 2oz smoked haddock fillet
- preferably undyed
- 500g/1lb 2oz thick salmon fillet
- 6 free-range eggs (optional)
- 75g/3oz butter
- 75g/3oz plain flour
- 3 tbsp white wine
- 100ml/3½fl oz double cream
- small bunch fresh dill
- leaves removed
- sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
- 1.25kg/2½lb potatoes
- peeled and cut into even-sized pieces
- 75g/3oz butter
- cubed
- 75ml/3fl oz double cream
- 150g/5oz mature Cheddar
- coarsely grated
Directions
- For the filling
- pour the milk into a large saucepan and add the onion and bay leaves. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place the fish fillets in the pan and bring to a very gentle simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for two minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to stand and infuse for five minutes until the fish is almost cooked. Drain the fish through a colander into a bowl
- then pour the milk into a jug.
- Meanwhile
- for the topping
- cook the potatoes in simmering water for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Drain in a colander then return to the pan and mash with the butter
- cream and three-quarters of the grated cheese. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
- Fill a saucepan one-third full with water and bring to the boil. Gently add the eggs to the water and cook for nine minutes. Drain in a colander under running water for 1-2 minutes then transfer to a bowl of very cold water and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for a few seconds
- and then gradually add the infused milk
- wine and cream
- stirring over a medium heat for five minutes until the sauce is smooth and thick. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and add the dill fronds into the sauce. Peel the eggs and cut in half.
- Spoon a third of the sauce into the base of a large ovenproof dish or 6-8 individual dishes. Scatter half the fish fillets over the sauce
- breaking them into chunky pieces as you go
- discarding the skin
- onion and bay leaves. Place half the eggs on top and pour over another third of the sauce. Continue with the layering process until the ingredients are used up.
- Spoon the potato over the fish mixture
- starting at the edges before making your way into the centre. Fluff up the potato with a fork and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Place the dish on a baking tray and bake in the centre of the oven for about 45 minutes or until the top is golden-brown and the filling is bubbling.

