Fish Pie- is there any easy/quick version?

[Dustyblue]

I made a fish pie for the first time, and wow did it take an age to put together. By the time it was done, it was the last thing in the universe I felt like eating.

What with poaching the fish in milk etc, cooling and making white sauce from the milk, mashing potato, boiling eggs, cooking the other seafood and carrots, assembling and baking... what a faff around.

The whole thing was basically cooked by the time it went in the oven. When I eventually ate some it was delicious, but there must be an easier way? Surely?

Charlie Bighams.
Available from most supermarkets.

I was just going to say the quick way is to buy ready made!!!

I only ever make it if I'm treating my mum as she likes a good fish pie. (Maybe 3 or 4 times I've done it for her.) I also did it a few times when I used to shop late at night and I would get good reduced price fish.

This one is fairly easy and tasty
www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/best-fish-pie/

I use the hairy bikers recipe, which doesn't involve boiled eggs, and I eat carrots on the side rather than in it. But the biggest time saving for me is using frozen mashed potatoes on top. Cuts out a step, so it essentially becomes poaching fish in milk and making a white sauce.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mums_everyday_fish_pie_43141

The quick roasting tin cook book has a speedy version which is topped with ruffled filo and uses coconut cream in the sauce. Would recommend!

Yeah, I use frozen mash and chuck in frozen peas for veg. Iceland's frozen mash is bloody lovely.

I agree OP. And i don't usually even bother with eggs in it. But:

Butter the dish. A lot.
Pieces of skinned, boned fish, including some smoked. TBH I don't think I bothered poaching the fish last time. It was still good. King prawns scattered over the fish.
White sauce - sometimes I put some white sauce under the fish, if I remember. Keeps it more moist. MOIST.
Mash, a thick-ish layer.

About 45 minutes in the oven until it's really bubbling (so the fish is definitely done)

We have it with broccoli or peas. No peeling.

Ooooh you’ve just reminded me of the special fish pie I haven’t made in ages!
Here is the recipe and I am going to make this again soon!
This is a slow cooker recipe but I’m sure you could adapt it to the oven should you not have a SC.

Serves 4
Add fish pie mix to a bowl ( you can buy this from supermarket fish counter if not buy 350g haddock and 150g salmon and cut into bite size pieces) sprinkle with cornflour, toss to coat pieces.
Add large tin sweet corn, 115g frozen peas defrosted, mix altogether.
In separate bowl mix/blend 115g cream cheese with 150g milk add salt, pepper and stir.
Add to the fish.
Put in slow cooker on high two hours.
Combine breadcrumbs and grated cheese ( the recipe says but I do mashed potato) add to fish pie and put under grill five mins.
Delicious!
Thanks for reminding me of this recipe and I’ve not used my slow cooker for so long!

I take the, it all goes down the same way approach. Do the mash and veg separately, fry some fish mix, season as desired, at the end either add cream or (stay with me here, don't knock it till you try it, lower cal, dairy free) orange juice. Dollop on the plate. Of course I am assuming this is for a mid week meal rather than a date night/ dinner party, otherwise go with the above suggestions. Takes about 10 mins plus time to cook/mash the potatoes. Even lazier bung some croquettes in the oven instead of mashed potatoes.

This is fast:
www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gnocchi-fish-pie/amp
I'm not a fan of mash so I actually prefer it to regular fish pie. Sadly my family do not agree with me on that.
If you are going to the faff of a traditional one make 2 (one minus the eggs and in a freezer proof dish).

You really don’t need to precook the fish. I chop up some white fish, smoked fish and add prawns. I cover this with a packet parsley sauce, top with mash, sprinkle with cheese and cook for about 35 minutes.

realfood.tesco.com/recipes/jos-showstopper-fish-pie.html
This is unusual in that it is topped with cauliflower not potato but it really works.
No precooking fish, crème fraiche instead of making a white sauce

My hacks:

Boil the eggs in the same pan as the potatoes.
No need to precook the fish.
Use creme fraiche instead of white sauce.

So it's really just a case of making mash and assembling.

*Ooooh you’ve just reminded me of the special fish pie I haven’t made in ages!
Here is the recipe and I am going to make this again soon!
This is a slow cooker recipe but I’m sure you could adapt it to the oven should you not have a SC.

Serves 4
Add fish pie mix to a bowl ( you can buy this from supermarket fish counter if not buy 350g haddock and 150g salmon and cut into bite size pieces) sprinkle with cornflour, toss to coat pieces.
Add large tin sweet corn, 115g frozen peas defrosted, mix altogether.
In separate bowl mix/blend 115g cream cheese with 150g milk add salt, pepper and stir.
Add to the fish.
Put in slow cooker on high two hours.
Combine breadcrumbs and grated cheese ( the recipe says but I do mashed potato) add to fish pie and put under grill five mins.
Delicious!
Thanks for reminding me of this recipe and I’ve not used my slow cooker for so long!*

Sorry! I forgot about the prawns! When you add the corn and peas add a bag of cooked prawns defrosted!

Chuck one of those mixed fish packets in an oven tray with some king prawns.
Dollop on some creme fraiche and some parsley.
Defrost some frozen mash and spread over top.
Bung in oven, serve with veg. Literally as little effort as making chicken nuggets and chips.

I was just going through my fb memories and this popped up....
"Fb friends. Food inspiration required. Am in shop. Got cheap fish pie mix but don't fancy making fish pie tomorrow. What else can I do - need to get ingredients now. (Also got cheap potato's...)" Apt after my comment above.
When I read through the comments it ended with me saying I made fish pie....Next time the reduced fish goes back on the shelf and I'm buying a pizza instead!!

Oh good, this is very promising. I must've used the oldest and most time-consuming recipe from the early 1900's or something.

I've been thinking of trying frozen mash & this has settled it- SUCH a chunk of time removed.

I like the Hairy Bikers one, and Jamie's.

@LegoCaltrops @Immaculatemisconception @beelaI I really like these versions as a method of cooking the seafood IN the pie and saving some time.

Unfortunately no frozen or ready-made fish pies seem available here in Australia. Just not popular for some reason?

But I live on the coast, so can get nice fresh seafood.

Saved from a Twitter post!

I NEVER add eggs, it’s just wrong. 😆

@Cattitudes

I take the, it all goes down the same way approach. Do the mash and veg separately, fry some fish mix, season as desired, at the end either add cream or (stay with me here, don't knock it till you try it, lower cal, dairy free) orange juice. Dollop on the plate. Of course I am assuming this is for a mid week meal rather than a date night/ dinner party, otherwise go with the above suggestions. Takes about 10 mins plus time to cook/mash the potatoes. Even lazier bung some croquettes in the oven instead of mashed potatoes.

Ok I'll admit I initially baulked at orange juice, but it's weirdly starting to make sense to me....

So are frozen croquettes on top (if we're thinking the same thing... here they're called potato gems)

Jamie Oliver has a good recipe which involves a grated carrot and no white sauce. It's surprisingly delicious and very quick to make

I use a frozen bag of fish pie mix, a packet of Schwartz white sauce, frozen peas, frozen mash. I stil poach the fish in milk, and use that milk to make the sauce mix. Actually pretty quick and family loves it.

This is the only fish pie I can be bothered to make! www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/fantastic-fish-pie/

Another vote for Jamie. I use the food processor to grate everything which also cuts down on the time. If you can get ready mashed potato even quicker.

Potatoes to boil. Egg in pan there if you want (but I don’t)
Fish in milk.
Soften leeks over low heat. Stir in butter and flour, pour some of the fish milk and some other milk over it to thicken up abs make a bit of a sauce.
Leeks, fish, and any frozen veg, then mash potato and put on top.