Low calorie fish and leek pie

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Fish Pie - the very words conjure up cosy evening meals. Karen shares how you can still enjoy all the comfort of a fish pie but with fewer calories than normal. This pie comes in at only 250 calories a serving when served with fresh kale.

Fish pie; the very words conjure up cosy evening meals at the kitchen table with piles of fluffy mashed potatoes, flaky fresh fish and a full tummy! I am a big pie fan, I love pies of all types…

But, pies are laden with calories by default, they are the ultimate comfort food, packed with tasty, creamy fillings and encased (or topped) with pastry or potatoes. Perfect though they may be for a cold winter’s day, they are just a teensy-weensy on the high calorie side, unfortunately for me!

The usual fish pie of my childhood, and the recipe that I still follow today (my mum’s recipe) comprises smoked haddock, cod, prawns, boiled eggs and peas all bound in a rich parsley sauce and topped with mounds, and I mean mounds, of cheesy mashed potatoes, with an extra layer of grated cheese and sliced tomatoes on top. A veritable hunk of a dish, and a firm family favourite.

Whilst my Low calorie fish and leek pie may not have ALL of those elements in it, it IS comforting and also very filling; plus it has lovely Scottish smoked haddock and cod as part of the ingredients. This fish pie, when served with a generous portion of curly kale, is only 250 calories per serving, and it’s packed with flavour. It’s very easy to make, and can be on the table from start to finish in about 45 minutes.

As well as the prime Scottish fish that I used in this recipe, there is a leek, some breadcrumbs with lemon zest and lots of fresh herbs. The topping is then finished off with some lemon slices, which make the pie look attractive whilst adding to the citrus flavour as the fish pie bakes.

When cooking for a crowd, you can serve some mashed potatoes as an accompaniment, as well as assorted seasonal veggies.

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

  • 1 leek, cleaned, trimmed and very finely sliced
  • 125g of smoked haddock, filleted and skinned
  • 125g of cod fillet, skinned
  • 300ml of skimmed milk
  • 1 tsp cornflour
  • 1 lemon, zested then sliced thinly for decoration
  • 2 tbsp of breadcrumbs
  • sea salt
  • black pepper
  • mixed herbs, fresh - Karen recommends finely chopped lemon thyme and parsley

Method

1
Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6
2
Place the sliced leeks in a large frying or sauté pan that has a lid and add 1 tablespoon of water. Simmer for 5 minutes with the lid on, or until the leeks are soft
3
Add the fish and the milk to the pan and simmer with the lid on for a further 5-8 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and is starting to flake. Drain, remove the fish and leeks and put them into an ovenproof dish
4
Mix the cornflour with a little water and add it to the hot milk cooking liquor. Heat it gently until the milk thickens and then season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the chopped fresh herbs of your choice
5
Pour the milk sauce over the fish and leeks. Mix the grated lemon zest with the breadcrumbs and scatter them evenly over the top of the pie filling
6
Arrange the lemon slices over the top and scatter over some more herbs, leaving some for garnish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot
7
Serve with steamed curly kale and a lemon wedge for a low-calorie and comforting meal

Karen Burns-Booth is a freelance food & travel writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a passion for local, seasonal ingredients.

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