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Ocean Pie

Ready in 1 hr

Recipe by Graham 

Ocean Pie is amazing! It's uncomplicated and tasty with subtle flavours complimenting the fish. It's just simple clean cuisine at its best. (You can add a few king prawns if you're feeling extravagant).

My Ocean Pie gives you flaky cod, salmon and haddock melting in a white sauce underneath a browned crust of creamy, buttery potatoes on top. It really does taste fantastic."

Preparation Time

20 Minutes

Cooking Time

40 Minutes

Ingredients for Ocean Pie

If you are not familiar with any ingredients, please check our International Cooking Terms page.

Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements

To serve 6:

FOR THE POTATO TOPPING
3 medium-sized potatoes
1 oz butter
up to ½ cup milk
FOR THE WHITE SAUCE
14 fl oz milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 heaped tablespoon plain flour (all purpose flour)
  salt and pepper
FOR THE PIE FILLING
1lb 2oz mixed salmon, cod and smoked haddock
4 oz frozen peas
  salt and pepper
½ lemon

How to Cook Ocean Pie

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut into pieces of roughly equal size (A medium-sized potato is usually cut into about 6 pieces). Rinse the potatoes to remove any surface starch. Now place them in a large pan with sufficient salted water to cover the potatoes. Bring the water to the boil then turn down the heat and cover the pan so that it continues to boil gently.
  2. Cooking time can vary depending upon the type of potato and the texture. Generally, however, somewhere between 15 - 20 minutes is sufficient. When you think that the potatoes are close to being cooked, pierce one or two of them with a fork. If the fork penetrates easily with little resistance, the potatoes are cooked. Remove the pan from the heat and drain off the water. Add the butter and, using a potato masher, begin to break up and mash the potatoes. Add milk (or cream if you want to be decadent) until the texture is soft and light (and spreadable).
  3. Now make the white (bechemel) sauce... Slightly warm the milk in a saucepan over a low heat (or in a microwave) and, in a separate pan, melt the butter. Add the flour to the butter and cook over a medium heat, stirring continuously, for about 3 minutes. Don't allow the flour to brown. Slowly add the warmed milk, beating the mixture with a hand whisk (or fork) as you do so. Continue to whisk the mixture until the sauce thickens, then cook gently for about 2-3 minutes over a low heat stirring occasionally until it reaches a rich and creamy consistency. If it is too thick, you can add a little more milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Cut the fish into chunks (make sure there are no skin or bones left) and place the pieces into an oven proof dish around 8" (20cm) square. Add the peas, season with salt and freshly-ground black pepper and add the juice of half a lemon. Pour over the bechamel (white) sauce. Spoon on the mash, starting at the edges and working towards the centre. Bake in a preheated moderately hot oven (Mk 6 - 400ºF - 200ºC) for 40 minutes until piping hot and golden brown.
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
You can grate a little nutmeg into the white sauce and also, you can also grate a little parmesan over the pie if you're in the mood!