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The ultimate fish pies

Serving instructions

  • Marcus Wareing

  • Makes 4 individual pies

  • Takes 15 minutes to make, 45-50 minutes to cook

The ultimate fish pies
The ultimate fish pies

Ingredients

  1. 500ml milk

  2. 200g hake fillet

  3. 200g raw king prawns, cut in half

  4. 100g smoked salmon trimmings

  5. For the mash

  6. 900g (3 large) floury potatoes, such as King Edward, peeled and quartered

  7. 100ml milk

  8. 2 medium, free-range egg yolks

  9. 30g unsalted butter, softened

  10. For the herb sauce

  11. 25g butter

  12. 2 tbsp plain flour

  13. 250ml chicken or vegetable stock

  14. 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

  15. Small bunch parsley, chopped

  16. Small bunch tarragon, chopped

Method

  • 1. Make the mash for the topping first. Place the potatoes in a large pan of cold, salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Drain, then mince with a potato ricer or mash finely. Mix in the milk, followed by the egg yolks and butter, then season and set aside.

  • 2. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Place 500ml milk into a saucepan and bring to a very gentle simmer. Add the hake and slowly poach for 4 minutes. Remove the fish, thickly flake, and reserve the milk.

  • 3. Make the herb sauce by melting the butter in a medium saucepan over a moderate heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes. Add 250ml of the reserved poaching milk (discard the rest) and whisk well. Stir in the stock, nutmeg and season to taste with salt and coarsely ground black pepper. Cook over a low heat until thickened, then remove from the heat, mix in the herbs and fold in the hake, prawns and smoked salmon. Divide the mixture between 4 x 400ml pie dishes then dollop the mash on top. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and piping hot.

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Smoked fish and cider pie

Mini fish pies

Prawn, watercress and salmon pie with lattice topping