I’ve never been a cooks cook, I can rustle up a decent diner and feed the family, but I am not a natural in the kitchen and certainly won’t be applying for masterchef anytime soon. Prior to having babies I used to dedicate a bit more time to it and you might get an exciting meal, nowadays it is all about convenience. With two under two spending ages faffing about in the kitchen just isn’t happening, not without a scream off or tantrum gate. I am however conscious I want the family to eat a nutritious, balanced and healthy meal so finding the line between convenience and wholesome can often be tricky.
One meal that I have found that seems to tick all the above boxes is fish pie. My kids absolutely adore fish pie and I have played around with an old family recipe to make it child, or well baby friendly. So please forgive the lack of salt and other such condiments which would normally be added, it was made with the little ones in mind. You could of course always add this yourself.
A word of warning this isn’t a recipe from a book so measurements have never really been followed, that being said I made this today and for the purpose of the blog I weighed out and carefully noted how much of each ingredient I was using.
On a final note, this meal is perfect for babies as it is contains veg, fish, potato and dairy, lots of food groups there. I tend to add extra milk and butter to my mash (and extra cheese to the sauce) as my little boy has ongoing weight issues and we are all about fortifying his meals with extra calories, as per medical instruction. Whether you to choose to do this is up to you.
So what you will need for the fish pie
- 3 medium sweet potatoes and 2 medium-sized white potatoes
- 1 fish pie mix – usually includes salmon, haddock and smoked haddock
- 30g of butter
- 30g flour
- 3 spring onions
- frozen peas
- frozen sweetcorn
- 400ml milk (I use full fat, for the weight issues mentioned above)
- Handful of cheese (stronger the better)
- Medium sized oven proof dish.
How you do it
- Pre-heat oven to 200c or 180c if using a fan oven.
- Peel potatoes, add to saucepan, cover with water and bring to boil. Boil until soft. Mash potatoes adding a splash of milk and knob butter.
Whilst potatoes are boiling you can prepare the filling
- Melt butter in pan, mix in flour and spring onions. You will need to stir regularly, I find a balloon whisk works rearly well for this, but really any old whisk will do.
- After about 1 minute, start adding milk. Stir milk in, and add fish, sweetcorn and peas.
- Cook for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure nothing is sticking to the pan. I also add a small amount cheese at this point but that entirely optional.
Once potatoes mashed and filling cooked
- Transfer filling into over proof dish.
- Spoon mash onto the on top.
- Add cheese on top.
- put into over for 20-25 minutes (I usually find 25 minutes gives it a nice golden colour).
Et voila you have yourself a fish pie packed with goodies, all in just a few easy steps.
This recipe makes a good helping of pie so if you’re not all sitting down to tuck into it as your family meal, then it is great to decanter into Tupperware and freeze for future meals for the littles ones.
Oh this looks so good. Saving this one for a rainy day!
oooo i love fish pie! Thanks for sharing your recipe – this one looks like one i might be able to make myself! #bloggerclubuk
This is great – a simple fish pie 🙂 I love fish pie, but it always seems a right old fiddle. I’ll try this. My kids hate fish pie but, well TOUGH! Thank you for sharing. Alison x #BloggerClubUK
Mmm, this looks delicious x #BloggerClubUK
The good thing about this recipe is that I could make it in advance and set the oven to come on when I want it. Am saving it. Thank you.
#BloggerClubUK
Ooh that fish pie looks delicious. I’d never really thought about using sweet potatoes in the mash too, but will be trying this. We also add lots of butter and cheese to things as my eldest also needs extra calories – occasionally I’ll also add cream to the mash if I’ve got some in the fridge to go with a dessert. #ablogginggoodtime
I’m not a natural in the kitchen either so I need easy recipes, and this looks yummy! I’ll definitely be giving it a go, thanks for sharing.
We like fish pie but I would never have thought of adding sweet potato, I will definitely try this. Thanks.
#ablogginggoodtime
This looks so yummy! I’m trying to work out how I can give it to TM other than spoon feeding and I can’t… Maybe I’ll save it for when he can wield a spoon relatively safely himself! #ablogginggoodtime
I’ve always liked the adding of sweer potato to a fish pie. makes it a bit more interesting. Fish pie works well for us too! ablogginggoodtime
Yay love new recipe ideas!! Thank you!! #ablogginggoodtime
Have made a similar recipe several times. I just wish my kids would eat it! My husband and I do love fish pie though! #BloggerclubUK X
Oh this looks really tasty. I love the fact you’ve added sweet potatoe. Last time I made one my little girl wouldn’t eat it so maybe I should try her again with it. x #marvmondays
Oh my goodness this looks delicious. I will definitely be stealing this recipe, we have a fish pie one from my mother but it’s so long winded and with two now, I have no time!
Thanks for sharing lovely.
#marvmondays
Fish pie is a favourite in our house but I often cheat and buy it ready made (the shame!!). This is such an easy recipe and if I keep my eye out for cheap fishpie mix it’ll be a money saving meal too compared to shop bought. Thanks for sharing #Marvmondays
Even as a veggie I must say I think this looks yummy!!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
Thank you for sharing with us this recipe. I am all for super easy and nutritious. #MarvMondays
I am a huge fish pie fan so I am going to need to try this out. Thank you for sharing xx #MarvMondays
I’ve never made this before – but I really should! Looks tasty.
#MarvMondays
Looks fab and straightforward. My kind of cooking, I am no Nigella! Thanks for sharing xx
#TheList
I love a good fish pie and your recipe looks and sounds sooooo good! I will definitely be giving yours a go once the weather starts to get cold, its the perfect autumn/winter meal 🙂 Thanks for sharing it on #MarvMondays. Emily
This looks delicious, we’ve not had fish pie for such a long time but I’d love to try your recipe. It’s reminded me how delicious it can be, my kiddies love fish I’m not sure why I don’t make it more!
I’m on my way around, looks so yummy and I always use sweet potatoes. I also lob in some thyme to the milk 🙂 I don’t even own scales – that’s what eyes are for right? #MarvMondays
Oh this looks great, Thanks for linking up to #TheList x (it would be great if you could add our badge) x
Argh sorry I thought I had done it! I have added it now. Thanks for your comment xx