A Fish Pie fit for a king! Flakes of fish smothered in a creamy white sauce, topped with mashed potato then baked until golden brown, a wonderful centrepiece for Easter you can make with fresh, smoked and even canned fish.
Use a combination of smoked fish and unsmoked fish for optimum flavour and texture, plus it’s more economical. Also see recipe notes for using canned tuna or salmon to make this!
Fish Pie
Let’s talk Fish Pie. Fish Pie for Easter! (Or any other time of the year 🙂 )
This recipe has a few more steps in it than my usual quick ‘n easy dinner recipes. But no more steps than usual pies – Cottage Pie, Beef and Mushroom Pie, Shepherds Pie.
A golden crusted, creamy mashed potato topping. A filling loaded with flakes of fish smothered in a beautiful creamy white sauce.
The extra pots and pans are totally worth it!
The key element of Fish Pie is the broth used to make the creamy sauce. And the path to a great broth is using the right fish.
Best Fish for Fish Pie
I like to use a combination of both smoked and normal unsmoked fish. The smoked fish (the bright orange one) provides most of the flavour. But I find it a bit overwhelming to use only smoked fish which is why I use both smoked and unsmoked (normal raw) fish.
Here in Australia, our range of smoked fish is sadly lacking. The only one sold at my local fish shop and supermarkets (Woolies) is smoked cod. It’s great value – $10/kg ($5/lb), it’s well seasoned infused with good smokey flavour, so it’s fantastic for Fish Pie.
And yes, it’s dyed. But I can’t deny that I love the colour it adds to the pie filling!
Poaching the fish with onions studded with cloves is a traditional method that I enjoy using. It adds a subtle hint of flavour into the broth to make this Fish Pie extra special.
I think you’ll be amazed at the flavour that’s infused into the milk with just 7 minutes of poaching time. It’s flavour that can’t be bought!!!
The flavour infused milk is then used to make the creamy sauce for the Fish Pie. I don’t think it’s strictly traditional to include sautéd carrots and celery in the sauce, but I like adding them because it adds even more flavour and it adds more texture to the filling.
This is a point of disagreement between myself and my brother who believes the filling should be just fish, whereas I find the texture too one dimensional for my taste. So I’ve included the carrots and celery as optional in the recipe – otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it! (Much like the fact that I tinkered with his famous Sausage Rolls recipe. He keeps going on and on and on about it 😂).
Key tip for the sauce – make sure it’s pretty thick. Like honey thick – that’s the best way I can describe it. It won’t thicken any more in the oven and also it’s likely that the fish will seep some liquid while baking. So basically, make the sauce as thick as you want it to be when you cut into the pie.
I’ve added egg into my Fish Pie, keeping with what I believe to be old school tradition 😇. I have a memory of cutting into a Fish Pie in a pub in London, and was “fishing” around trying to find the egg. I wanted my egg! Give me my egg!
But it is optional. 😂
Top with mash, rough it up (more ridges = more crunch!), drizzle with butter, sprinkle with parmesan and bake…..
……and look what comes out.
I know I should be focussing on the filling, but let me have a moment. Look at that golden crunchy crust! It’s so good!!!!
OK, now it’s the fillings’ turn.
LOOK AT THAT CREAMY FILLING loaded with the tender flakes of fish!!!!
This Fish Pie might be fit for a king, but it’s totally economical to make. If you purchase your fish from the supermarket (Woolworths), it should cost less than $20 and it serves 6 to 8 people. I’m sharing this with Good Friday in mind. Traditionally, meat isn’t consumed on Good Friday and while a side of salmon recipe is usually first to mind, I thought I’d share something a little different for this year! – Nagi x
PS Though if salmon is what you’re after, there’s plenty to browse. For gatherings, try this Baked Parmesan Crusted Salmon with Lemon Cream Sauce (firm personal favourite) or Salmon Gravlax. See all my Salmon recipes here!
More cosy pies
Cottage Pie (beef)
Shepherd’s Pie (lamb – because Shepherd’s herd sheep!)
Browse all cosy Winter Warmers
And more fish recipes:
Honey Garlic Salmon and Lemon Honey Glazed Salmon – super quick!
See all Fish recipes
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Fish Pie
Ingredients
Fish:
- 400 g / 14 oz smoked fish of choice (Note 1)
- 400 g / 14 oz raw unsmoked fish of choice , I used Perch (Note 2)
- 3 cups / 750 ml milk , low fat or full fat
- 1 brown onion , quartered (Note 3)
- 4 cloves , optional (Note 4)
White Sauce:
- 50 g / 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 small onion , finely chopped
- 1 small carrot , finely chopped
- 1 small celery stick , finely chopped
- 1/3 cup / 50g plain flour (all purpose flour, Note 11 for GF)
- 1 tbsp fresh tarragon , finely chopped (optional)
- 2 tbsp parsley , finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
Potato Topping:
- 750 g / 1.5 lb floury potatoes , peeled and cut into 2.5cm / 1″ pieces (Note 5)
- 30 g / 2 tbsp+ unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml milk, any fat %
Pie:
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 hard boiled eggs , quartered (optional) (Note 6)
- 30 g / 2 tbsp butter , melted
- 1/4 cup / 15g grated parmesan cheese , optional
- Finely chopped parsley , for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Fish:
- Push a clove into the skin of each onion. Place in a pot or large skillet, add milk, turn stove onto medium high heat.
- When milk is barely simmering, add fish – don’t worry if it’s not entirely covered, it can be turned / moved around.
- Poach fish for 7 minutes, then use a slotted spoon to transfer fish straight into a medium baking dish (Note 8).
- Flake into chunks using forks. Remove bones if you see any.
- Use slotted spoon to remove onion and cloves from milk, discard. RESERVE milk.
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Boil water for potatoes.
Sauce:
- Melt butter in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Then add celery and carrot, cook for 5 minutes until carrot is soft.
- Turn heat down to medium low. Add flour, mix in – it will look gluey.
- Add half the milk and quickly start mixing. Once incorporated, the mixture will thicken quickly. Add remaining milk and stir. (Video helpful here)
- Turn heat up to medium and keep stirring until the mixture thickens to the consistency of honey – about 3 minutes. (Note 7)
- Take it off the heat, stir through tarragon and parsley. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Pie:
- Scatter top of flaked fish with peas, then pour over the Sauce. GENTLY stir through (don’t want fish to turn into mush!).*
- Smooth top, then nestle egg in all over the pie.
Mashed Potato:
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes or until soft. (Do this while making the Sauce).
- Drain potato, add butter, milk, salt and pepper. Mash until creamy – add more milk if required.
- Immediately dollop then spread onto pie (cold mash = hard to spread).
- Use fork to draw squiggles on surface (rough surface = better golden bits).
Bake Pie:
- Drizzle surface with melted butter, sprinkle with parmesan.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until top is deep golden.
- Stand for 5 minutes before serving, garnished with parsley if desired. See notes for reheating and make ahead.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
When I first got him, he was so shy he used to sleep with his head stuffed between cushions. Soooo cute…..! (Didn’t last long, he was ruling the house in no time).
Decided to make this for Good Friday before JB’s fish pie recipe dropped the next day. Made this per recipe for 3 serves. It was so tasty & full of flavour, an absolute winner.
Not a weeknight recipe, but enjoyed making this with my mum for Good Friday dinner. Thanks Nagi
The increased advertising now on this site as Nagi monetisers her wonderful recipes causes my Ipad to constantly refresh. Making it almost impossible to use her recipes. Such a shame.
Nagi is Gods Gift to Cooking
Can I make & freeze?
Excellent pie. I couldn’t find smoked fish so I used prawns instead. Nice and thick, amazing taste. Thanks
Best Fisherman’s Pie I’ve had! Thanks again Nagi x
Have made this dish several times now and it is easy, economical and super tasty. It is worthy enough to serve up to guests for dinner. Give it a try.
Love this Fish Pie. Have made it several times for family occasions and it’s gone in a flash!! Sadly no leftovers! 😊😅
It’s lovely. Coming from a British person. Only thing I change. Is when you save the milk, leave the onion and cloves infusing within it until ready to use. Saffron rather than tarragon. And a dollop of English mustard in your mash.
I always go to your recipes first, for any meal, and always well received! Thankyou!
Made this for dinner tonight and although it takes quite some time to make, it was worth it – my daughter and hubby both had seconds it was so delicious! Highly recommend.
I’ve been tasting throughout the process and it’s delish. BUT. It took me far too long to make. I wish I had the time with my kids. But I just don’t.
Absolutely delicious but I didn’t realize how long it would take
Absolutely delicious but I didn’t realize how long it would take, I agree with you
The ingredients need to be written with the consideration of people who don’t read the full story. I just jump into ingredients and method. So it was not clear how/when to use the reserved fish milk.
Brilliant recipe, never fails to please absolutely everyone x
Made this three times, different fish each & added cooked prawns; it’s an absolute winner, delicious. Although I put too much tarragon in the first attempt, I will add a drop of white wine to the sauce next time. My husband & guests thoroughly enjoyed it.
Probably would also add white wine to the poaching.
I’m thinking I would use some de-salted fatback to sautee veggies, then use it in the milk poaching for extra flavor. But then I would drizzle melted butter over the top before baking. A little like a chowder.
I’m not one to usually leave reviews but this one was worth it! Such a tasty pie. Used the no smoked fish/ extra Parmesan option as had some frozen basa that needed to be used. Will definitely be making it again .
Delish! Used barramundi, salmon & prawns (all things this pescatarian had in the freezer). Was absolutely delicious, will definitely cook again 🙌🏻
I made this last night and it did not disappoint. Delicious!
This recipe was absolutely delicious,I didn’t have tarragon but the flavours worked very well with this salmon, shrimp and scallops that I used. Thank you