Family Friendly Fabulous Fish Pie

Serves	4
Prep time	20 minutes
Cook time	20 minutes
Total time	40 minutes
Allergy	Fish, Milk
Meal type	Lunch, Main Dish
Misc	Child Friendly, Serve Hot
Occasion	Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Halloween
Region	British
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

These easy to make pies are perfect for a family supper or lunch dish; children love them, and there is no need to serve any extra vegetables on the side, as there are leeks in the fish pie mixture, although peas and steamed Savoy cabbage makes a nice accompaniment. The smoked haddock gives these pies a lovely subtle flavour without being overpowering, but DON'T use the bright yellow dyed haddock, naturally smoked is best. If you want to add a little extra to these pies, although I think they are just lovely as they are, you can add a chopped boiled egg to the mixture or a few capers. Fish is the original fast food, and these easy pies can be prepared and on the table in 40 minutes. Salmon, cod, hake or haddock can be used in place of smoked haddock, or a mixture of fish.

Ingredients

750g potatoes (peeled and diced)
2 leeks (cleaned, halved and finely diced)
50g butter (25g for the potatoes and 25g for the leeks)
2 to 3 smoked haddock fillets, about 250g to 300g in weight (skinned and boned, I use Delish Fish, which is ready to cook)
150ml milk
1 bay leaf
black pepper to taste
50g grated Scottish Cheddar cheese (I used Isle of Mull )
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
parsley (to garnish)

Note

Directions

Step 1	Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Grease a large pie dish/tin or individual pie dishes. (ramekin dishes for the children)
Step 2	Boil the potatoes until soft and easy to mash, add the butter and mash well, until there are no lumps.
Step 3	Meanwhile, poach the smoked haddock fillets with the milk and bay leaf in a large saucepan, it will only take about 5 to 8 minutes, do not over cook - the fish is cooked when it is opaque and flakes easily; take off the heat and allow to cool slightly in the milk. Drain before adding the potato mixture.
Step 4	Add the remaining butter to a frying pan and heat gently, then add the finely diced leeks and cook over a gentle heat until they are just soft, but are still bright green and hold their shape..
Step 5	Season the mashed potatoes to taste with black pepper, but no salt, as the smoked haddock will be salty. Add the leeks and gently mix through, before adding the cooled, flaked smoked haddock - mix gently as not to break the fish up too much and check the seasoning. If the mixture is too stiff, loosen it a little with some of the poaching milk.
Step 6	Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish or dishes; sprinkle the grated cheese and breadcrumbs over the top and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is golden brown.
Step 7	Serve immediately with parsley as a garnish and seasonal greens or peas.