Classic Fish Pie

P1030868It seems that in the last week the thermometer has plummeted. We were said to have had the warmest halloween ever and yet this week has seen me lusting after winter coats online as frost and fog has suddenly set in. This kind of weather is fantastic though because it excuses proper warming, filling dinners and allows any thoughts of weight-loss to be pushed out of the brain in favour of dreams of mince-pies and mulled wine.

Fish PieOne of my favourite winter-warmer style dinners is fish pie. Nothing fancy just classic, hearty, british food. You might think this a bit of a luxury especially those of you who are starting to feel the pinch in the no mans land between loan payments. But this is actually a fairly cheap dinner and you can get a few portions out of it so, if you’re not in the beans on toast stage yet, give this a go and it will definitely help you get through the next few hypothermic months!

Fish Pie (serves 4)

  • one salmon fillet
  • two fillets of white fish
  • one packet of prawns
  • Milk
  • 3 large potatoes
  • Flour
  • Butter
  • One leek
  • A handful of frozen peas

How to make it…

  • Place the fish fillets in a large pan, skin side down and cover with milk. Leave to one side to simmer on a low heat.
  • Peel and slice the potatoes and add to a pan of boiling water.
  • Slice the leek and add to a pan with a knob of butter, leave to soften.
  • Once the potatoes are soft enough, mash with a dash of milk, a knob of butter and some salt and pepper.
  • By now the fish should be cooked through and flakey, take the fish out and peel off the skin. Flake into an oven dish and stir though the prawns, leeks and defrosted peas.
  • Melt a large knob of butter in a pan and add a tablespoonful of flour, whisk into a paste and add a dash of the fish’s cooking liquid. Continue whisking and adding the poaching liquid until the sauce is the right consistency. Pour over the fish and top with the mashed potato. Cook in the oven at 200 degrees for around 20 minutes or until the top is golden and crisp.

Cost Rating **
I used: 2 fillets of cobbler costing £2.50, 1 fillet of salmon costing £2.25, 1 pack of prawns costing £3, 3 potatoes costing 25p, 1 leek costing 87p, 1/10 of a bag of peas costing £1, 1 pint 0f milk costing 45p. Total cost: £8.92, Cost per head: £2.23.

Washing Up Rating **
I used: 3 pans, a wooden spoon, a knife, a chopping board, a colander, a whisk, an oven dish.

Category : Cost Rating **, Fish, Recipes, Washing-up Rating **
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