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?

Don’t skimp on the filling. Use frozen mash to save time and effort with the potato element.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/family-meals-easy-fish-pie-recipe

This is the one I use. I’ve done Jamie’s one with the grated carrot before- I made in a big batch then froze individual portions. It was nice but I missed the creaminess!

The Jamie Oliver one linked previously is delicious and if you add extra creme Fraiche its more like a traditional fish pie

Bag of fish pie mix, ready made cheese sauce that you can add more cheese to if you need.

Croquettes might be slightly bigger (from my googling) but essentially the same concept. I would just put them on the side. I literally just dollop on the fish sauce, veg and potatoes. I find with my family if I give them a chunk of pie they expect something else to go with it. If they see fish, veg, potatoes they are happy. As I say it is a deconstructed fish pie.

Obviously orange juice doesn't have the same consistency as a creamy pie, but especially on a hot day fish in orange juice is really refreshing and doesn't sit heavy in the same way that cream/ white sauce does. It is also useful in our family where one can't have milk and another can't have gluten. Because I add it at the end I can even do orange sauce for one and cream sauce for another. You could serve the orange and fish sauce in tapas dishes / ramekins if you were feeling posh and didn't want the orange to mix in!

@hotchocdrinker

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

I'm very glad I asked! So many good ideas.

I'm going to try this Jamie one. No smoked haddock in the supermarkets here, but there is smoked cod. Plus some white fish and either scallops or squid. Not a fan of prawns generally.

Our neighbor works nights on a fishing trawler & sometimes brings me slimy fresh treats in the early morning... that's how my fish pie obsession started

Also frozen mash. Will likely still do the hard boiled eggs too, I think they really add something.

Many thanks.

Also, to those who hate eggs in their fish pie... I understand. But for me it's a throwback to my childhood Easter dinner of smoked cod with egg & caper sauce.

That's just white sauce with sliced hard boiled eggs and salted capers. Freaking delish it is! Might have to add capers to my pie.

Pack of frozen fish pie mix with some frozen peas or sweetcorn added ( or anything you fancy puttin in really)

add a tub of fresh cheese sauce or sometimes i make a packet up or use white sauce with herbs added or parsley sauce
Top with Aunt Bessies frozen mashed potatoes in their rounds still frozen.
Sometimes add breadcrumbs and cheese to the top of potatoes or sliced tomatoes
Just use whatever you have around and vary it each time
Bake about 150deg until cooked.

I make the Jamie one regularly. I put the spinach on the bottom of the dish, stick the fish on top then add some chopped carrot, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper then put mash on top then the grated cheese. I don’t even like ‘normal’ fish pie now!

@Boomshakalack agree I only do that Jamie fish pie now, something about the strong cheese/lemon/chilli is so much better than normal fish pie. Also agree on adding spinach might try it as a layer on the bottom though thanks

The Jamie fish pies are great. Especially the one where you just grate lots and Chuck it all together.

A super quick fish pie is poach fish pie mix in milk, add parsley sauce from a packet, cover with mash and a bloody good cheddar & whack in oven. Serve with steamed green beans.

Buy frozen mash, it’s actually really good. The fish pie sauce doesn’t take long, just bechamel made with the milk from poaching the fish. Takes minutes to assemble then bake.

put potatoes on for mash. Soften very finely diced carrots and leeks add a splash of wine or fish stock and reduce, add cream and creme fraiche com until slightly thickened (I don't measure) salt and pepper let it cool while the potatoes cook. Cut a selection of fish into good size chunks and throw in some king prawns, mix in the cooled sauce and lay in the bottom of your pie dish (the fish doesn't need to be pre cooked) you can layer on boiled eggs and spinach if you want (I don't I prefer to serve with green veg) , top with mash, cheese if you like, oven for about half hour. As the fish cooks it releases liquid and adds flavour to the sauce which is lighter than a flour based one

For me if you poach the fish first then bake in the oven the fish ends up overcooked

Home made mash also freezes really well, whenever I make mash I make a huge pot and freeze the rest in family sized portions

Carrots don’t feature in fish pie for me. I’d have broccoli or green beans.

I have a quick low fat recipe that’s now a staple one of Michael Mosleys

Put mixed fish and peas in a dish bit of olive oils season put foil on put in oven for 15 mins

Get out stir in creme fraiche and I add hard boiled eggs diced

Topping breadcrumbs mixed with grated cheese

Awesome recipe quick low fat and my family prefer to the traditional white sauce potatoes etc

Put back in oven after adding topping and creme fraiche obv

Surely milk and potatoes are healthier than creme fraiche, cheese and breadcrumbs?
I always use skimmed milk and don’t use a lot of cheese anyway.

This is a great easy recipe and freezes like a dream

thebatchlady.com/recipe/fish-pie/

I cook the fish and prawns in the white sauce, I hate eggs so miss them out. Top with mashed potato (saved from previous night) with lots of chopped parsley in it. Serve veg (steamed in microwave) separately. Adapt to your tastes but I use supermarket fish mix plus raw prawns

@maras2

Charlie Bighams. Available from most supermarkets.

Yes this. Ha! I was just going to say the same thing. Nicest by far.

You don’t need eggs or to precook fish.
Thaw some frozen fish pie mix. Make a nice cheesy sauce and when thickened put in fish and barely simmer for 10 min while cooking potatoes (I cut them up very small to save time). Put fish/sauce mix in a dish to cool a little while you mash potatoes. Put mash on top of mix and sprinkle with some grated cheese. Cook at 200 degrees for 30 min or until nicely browned. Allow to cool for 5-10 min before serving (this firms it up). Everyone I serve this to loves it.

Some are going to slaughter me for my fish pie recipe but here I go.

You did ask for minimal effort...

Mash is just boiled potatoes and a big blob of butter so all goes on in background. If they are organic I just wash them and don't even peel them. My dad always said the peel was the best part of the tato so...

Fish poached in milk but also I just whack in a big bag of frozen veg and a big bag of frozen prawns in with that milk. The frozen veg comes in a creamy sauce so it all just blends in together and makes its own cream. I add some pressed garlic and frozen dill.

Wait until the liquid from the fish/veg has all simmered off and any excess is scooped out to be a gravy that I pour over the finished result at the end.

Mash on top followed by a bag of pre grated cheese.

In the oven until the cheese is looking crispy.

It's so straightforward it's my lazy dinner.

Fish pie mix (or cod, smoked haddock and salmon chunks), king prawns, frozen peas, frozen or tinned sweetcorn, all in a dish. Add a big jar of dolmio cheesy lasagne sauce (or the supermarket version). Mix. Top with ready made mash either fresh or frozen, or what I tend to do is make double when we have it another night and use the leftovers for a potato topped pie like this.
I like to mark the top with a fork, and sprinkle over a little cheese. Bake in the oven on 180 degrees for 50mins.
Perfect every time.