Freezer-raid fish pie | Jamie Oliver recipes (2024)

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Freezer-raid fish pie

With a crispy potato top

With a crispy potato top

“By embracing the freezer, I’ve found a way to make this comforting family classic at a fraction of the cost. Frozen fish fillets are much cheaper than fresh, and you can’t tell the difference here. I’m serving this with good old baked beans (my favourite with a fish pie), but feel free to swap in frozen peas, if you prefer. ”

Serves 6

Cooks In1 hour 15 minutes plus cooling

DifficultyNot too tricky

Nutrition per serving
  • Calories 588 29%

  • Fat 17.3g 25%

  • Saturates 5.5g 28%

  • Sugars 12.7g 14%

  • Salt 1.8g 30%

  • Protein 36.5g 73%

  • Carbs 72.3g 28%

  • Fibre 10.7g -

Of an adult's reference intake

Freezer-raid fish pie | Jamie Oliver recipes (3)

Recipe From

£1 Wonders

By Jamie Oliver

Tap For Method

Ingredients

  • 2 medium free-range eggs
  • 480 g frozen leaf spinach
  • 1.5 kg potatoes
  • olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 1 carrot
  • 30 g plain flour
  • 500 ml semi-skimmed milk
  • 2 teaspoons English mustard
  • 80 g mature Cheddar cheese
  • 520 g frozen white fish fillets
  • 2 x 400g tins of baked beans

Tap For Method

£1 or less per portion recipes were calculated using costs from an average of four UK supermarkets in September 2022. FIND OUT MORE

Buy ingredients online (below) is brought to you by Whisk.com

Freezer-raid fish pie | Jamie Oliver recipes (4)

Recipe From

£1 Wonders

By Jamie Oliver

Tap For Ingredients

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas 5. Cook the eggs in a pan of boiling water for 10 minutes, until hard boiled. While they’re cooking, put the frozen spinach inside a metal colander and rest it on top of the pan to defrost. Once the time’s up on the eggs, transfer them to cold water to cool slightly, then peel, slice into rounds and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, scrub and prick the potatoes, then cook them in the microwave on high (800W) for 25 minutes, or until soft. Once cool enough to handle, halve the potatoes and leave them to steam dry.
  3. Place a casserole pan on a medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Peel, finely slice and add the onion, then finely slice and add the carrot (there’s no need to peel it). Season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.
  4. Stir the flour into the carrots and onions, then gradually add the milk, a ladleful at a time, stirring continuously until you have a smooth sauce.
  5. Off the heat, add the mustard and grate in most of the cheese, stirring gently to combine. Arrange the frozen fish fillets in a single layer on top, breaking them up to fill in any gaps.
  6. Pile the defrosted spinach onto a clean tea towel, then wrap it up and wring out really well to remove the excess liquid. Tip the spinach onto a board, add a pinch of salt and pepper, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of oil, then finely chop and arrange it on top of the fish, leaving a 2cm gap around the edge – this will allow the sauce to bubble up over the edges. Finish with a layer of the sliced egg.
  7. Scoop the insides of the potatoes into a bowl, leaving the skins on your board. Season the skins, drizzle with 1 teaspoon of oil and pat them down slightly, before using them to line the edge of the pan, a bit like a pastry lining, tearing them as you go, if needed.
  8. Season the potato insides with salt and 1 teaspoon of oil and mash, then pick up the potato using the masher and shake it on top of the pie in a rustic fashion. Fold in the potato skin edges, so they don’t burn, and grate over the remaining Cheddar.
  9. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, until golden and blipping. When there’s 5 minutes to go, heat the baked beans in the microwave or on the hob, then serve.

Tips

HELPFUL HINT
Mashed potato works perfectly well without olive oil – simply swap in a splash of milk or a knob of butter. Or, leave it out altogether – just make sure you chuff up the mashed potato topping so you get lots of lovely crispy bits.

EASY SWAPS
If you don’t fancy baked beans, swap in frozen peas – cook according to the packet instructions, until piping hot.

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Freezer-raid fish pie | Jamie Oliver recipes (8)

Recipe From

£1 Wonders

By Jamie Oliver

© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

Freezer-raid fish pie | Jamie Oliver recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make the best frozen fish? ›

Brush both sides of frozen fish with olive, canola, peanut or grapeseed oil. Place fish in heated pan and cook, uncovered, about 3 minutes, until browned. Turn fish over, season with spices, and cover the skillet tightly. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 6 to 8 minutes more until opaque throughout.

How long to defrost frozen fish pie? ›

Alternatively, thaw in the fridge overnight, then cook the pie as if freshly made, adding an extra 5-10 minutes to allow for the chill factor.

How long can you keep fish pie in the freezer? ›

Wrap the dish of a whole pie tightly in a double layer of clingfilm (plastic wrap) and a layer of foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Put portions of leftover pie in resealable containers and freeze for up to one month. Thaw the pie or leftovers overnight in the fridge.

Do Aldi do a fish pie mix? ›

The Fishmonger Fish Pie Mix 400g | ALDI.

Can you cook frozen fish straight from the freezer? ›

Baking, poaching or steaming are the best methods for cooking fish if you're skipping the thawing process. Avoid pan-frying as the fish may release too much water or the flesh won't be evenly cooked. If you're following a recipe, you may add a few minutes to make sure the frozen fish is fully cooked.

Should I thaw frozen fish before cooking? ›

While there are some varieties of fish that cook fine without even being thawed out (lean fish, like tilapia and cod, can go straight from the freezer to the roasting or sauté pan), it's often best to fully thaw the fish before cooking.

Is it best to freeze fish pie cooked or uncooked? ›

Either of these can be prepared and frozen before cooking, then I think it's best t defrosted overnight in the fridge before baking. Or if you forget to get it out if the freezer, you can bake from frozen and give it an extra 15 minutes.

Should a frozen pie be thawed before baking? ›

When ready to bake pie, heat oven to 450°F. When oven is preheated, remove frozen pie from freezer; cut a few slits in top crust and place in oven. Do not thaw pie because no one wants a soggy pie. Bake 25 minutes.

Can you reheat fish pie made from frozen fish? ›

I nuked it in the microwave, so nice and hot. TBH - it was better today than yesterday! Whether the fish was frozen or fresh when you made the pie is irrelevant. Reheat thoroughly as you should with most things.

Does fish pie freeze well? ›

Fish Pie Leftovers

Reheat fully in the microwave or oven until piping hot before serving. In the freezer This recipe freezes well. I tend to make it all up to the point where you put it in the oven and then freeze. Allow to defrost fully and then bake in the oven on the day you want to eat it.

Why do people put egg in fish pie? ›

Each ingredient plays a role in making the most unctuous dish. Adding prawns alongside the poached fish provides a sweet, seafood surprise, a good grating of nutmeg in the sauce punches extra flavour and enriching the mashed potato with egg yolk is a great tip for both taste and finish.

Can you reheat frozen fish pie twice? ›

In terms of food safety, however, so long as you reheat the food at the correct temperature and for the correct duration of time, it can in fact be safely reheated multiple times. However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that food is only reheated once, so follow this guidance wherever possible.

What is the fancy name for fish pie? ›

Fish pie, also known as fisherman's pie, is a traditional British dish.

Can you buy sauce for fish pie? ›

Schwartz Fish Pie Wet Sauce For Fish 300G - Tesco Groceries.

Why does my fish pie sauce split? ›

However sometimes the white sauce in a fish pie splits or curdles due to the water released by the uncooked fish cooking in the oven. The key to avoiding curdled or split sauce is poaching the fish first in the milk so that it releases the water at that stage and not while it is cooking in the oven.

How do you add flavor to frozen fish? ›

Stir in the minced onion (or scallions), parsley, garlic, eggs, mustard, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Next, salt the thawed fish and steam it using water that has been spiked with a few lemon wedges. Steam for about 6 minutes until it registers at least 140 degrees.

How do you make frozen fish taste like fresh fish? ›

Let It Marinate

Fish has a great flavor on its own, but the right marinade can bring it to a whole new level. The infused oils and citrus base of most marinades can easily cut through any lingering frozen flavors, and best of all, fish absorbs marinade quickly – usually within 15 minutes if the fish is thawed.

How do you make frozen fish juicy? ›

Cooking frozen fish in a steamer is a gentle method that preserves the fish's moisture and flavor.

Can frozen fish taste as good as fresh? ›

You may be surprised to learn that most consumers actually can't tell the difference between fresh and frozen seafood, and in many cases actually prefer the latter! During a blind taste test in a 2019 study, the frozen seafood product was liked as much as — or better than — the fresh.

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