Where did I just go wrong? (Fish Pie)

[WildUnknown]

Just made a fish pie

Fish mix in first, followed by veggies (cauliflower, carrot, broccoli) followed by sauce followed by mash

Oven for 30 mins at 200

Everything came out perfect except the veggies which are inedibly hard and feel/taste like they've not been cooked at all.

What should I have done differently?

Fish cooks a lot faster than veg, but I don't think veg has any place in a fish pie and should be served separately.

Raw veg? If so they wouldn't cook in that sort of sauce in that time span, I would have blanched them first especially the carrots which I would probably half cook, the other two would be quicker. If you left it in oven long enough to cook veg the fish would be well overcooked, peas would be fine for example and even small florets of the cauliflower/brocolli but not carrots.

I always do the veg separately rather than in the pie. Either that or par boil them.

I never put veg in a fish pie. Veg on the side only.

Only veg I ever put in a fish pie is peas and sweetcorn. Veg doesn't cook as quickly in a sauce or in the oven as it does boiling in water. I'd probably cook them first. But agree with pp cauliflower in particular has no place inside a fish pie!!

Did you cook the veg first? If not they wouldn't cook enough just being baked in the sauce. I never put my veg in the pie (apart from maybe a few peas). I have them on the side.

Don't add the veggies. Fish pie should be fish, parsley or cheesy sauce and mash. Some like to add chopped hardboiled eggs (yuck!). Maybe a little grated cheese on the top. Veg def separate. I do love a fish pie!

You cook the veg before you make up the fish pie , tbh I'd only use sweetcorn or peas or chopped up green beans .
As they are mainly available frozen , I'd still boil slightly so they defrost as not to add any water to the mix. Dry them off before adding.

I feared that the answer would be to cook the veggies separately I was trying to cut corners, I'm not much of a homemade cook but I've been trying to evolve and learn since I got a new kitchen. Bit of an experiment Lesson learned

Definitely cook veg first, then sauce then add fish at end as it cooks so quickly.

Either par-boil the veg first or maybe roast them alongside the pie rather than within it?

Raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots would want well over an hour in something like that to soften I'd think.

Only veg that belongs inside a fish pie is buttered leeks or peas.

Veg on the side or if you're trying to hide it for kids then at very you'll need to give it a quick 3min boil. If you do it in the saucepan you're making the sauce in then you won't have anymore washing up.

I haven't put those veg in a fish pie before. I would just steam those whilst the fish pie was cooking.

Fish pie always seems to take me ages as I fiddle around so I get why you tried to cut corners. But veg should always be on the side IMHO. White fish, prawns, smoked fish if you really must, poach the fish in milk then use that milk to make a white or cheesy sauce. Mash on top. I know the egg issue but personally no unless you are a toddler.

I've never thought if putting veg in a fish pie, always serve separately. Peas, green beans or asparagus

I know we have access to millions of cookery books and YouTube etc. but sometimes you need a bit of 1:1 help.

I'm not a keen cook and tend to cook to eat rather than try anything fancy. About 20 years ago I was struggling to cook vegetarian dishes that weren't the usual boring pasta or mushroom based stuff so I signed up for a 1 day vegetarian cookery course in my local city and it really helped me a lot. I met some new interesting people and had a lot of fun on the day.

Maybe look for a 1 day course or something similar as it can really boost your skills and confidence. 😊

I have cooked Fish Pie successfully without veg before but I thought "I know I'll make it healthy" and didn't factor in that the veg wouldn't cook, feel very stupid now

As others have said, cook larger veg separately and serve on the side. I put in sweet corn and peas as small - I also fry off spring onions or leek before adding mustard, flour, butter and milk salt and pepper and cheese to make a cheese type sauce (with chives if I have them) - I finely slice carrot and fry for a few mins at that point.

The only veg I've ever put in a fish pie is frozen peas (defrosted) or maybe sweetcorn. If I ever did put broccoli or whatever in it I'd par boil it first. To be honest the veg should be served seperately and I really wouldn't put cauliflower in it at all, ever.

What's the worry, your fish pie was great. Cook the veg separately and give a supper party. Show off your kitchen!
To make the mash nice and golden on top, I sprinkle a little paprika over before putting it in the oven.

Don't feel stupid OP. Like you said, lesson learned. I'm sure next time your FB will be perfect .. with a serving of veg on the side👌. Do you have a steamer?. I throw mine in there whilst other stuff is cooking. Really easy.

It really does only take a few seconds to find an on line recipe.
Use Good Food, or Good Housekeeping or a known chef like Delia Smith or Jamie Oliver.
Would have saved you an inedible dinner

Cooking is easy if you follow a recipe and nearly always inedible if yo7 don't. Been cooking for more years than I can remember and still use recipes all the time.

Carrots are absolute bastards and take forever to cook, even if precooked before

You could roast the veg in the pie dish first, and then follow the rest of the steps. Still healthier, no extra washing up and delicious pie!

https://www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/family-fish-pie/

This a good recipe

Bear in mind you can make the mash beforehand (or even the day before, and put in fridge)