'Skinny' fish, pea and parsley pies with sesame pastry
Prep time: 25 minsTotal time: 
'Skinny' fish, pea and parsley pies with sesame pastry
Prep time: 25 minsTotal time: 
Sarah Randell
Our former Food Director, and previously food editor to Delia Smith, Sarah has written more than 1000 recipes for the magazine. She is also author of Family Baking and Marmalade; A Bittersweet Cookbook among others.
Sarah Randell
Our former Food Director, and previously food editor to Delia Smith, Sarah has written more than 1000 recipes for the magazine. She is also author of Family Baking and Marmalade; A Bittersweet Cookbook among others.
Ingredients
- 400g skin-on smoked haddock or salmon fillet
- 1 bay leaf
- a slice of onion
- a few black peppercorns
- 300ml skimmed milk
- 25g butter
- 40g plain flour
- 150g frozen peas (no need to defrost)
- 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley
For the sesame filo pastry:
- 5 filo pastry sheets
- spray oil
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
You will also need:
- 4 x 400ml ovenproof dishes
Step by step
Assemble the pies up to a day ahead; chill, ready to bake.
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Put the fish in a medium wide-bottomed pan and add the bay leaf, onion and peppercorns. Pour over the milk. Bring to simmering point, then reduce the heat to low, cover and leave the fish to poach for 5-6 minutes or until just cooked.
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Take the fish off the heat and put on a plate to cool. Strain the milk into a jug and discard the flavourings. Rinse the pan.
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Preheat the oven to 190°C, fan 170°C, gas 5. Flake the fish, discarding the skin and any bones – keep the flakes chunky.
TipUsing skimmed milk and filo pastry (instead of puff pastry) keeps the fat content lower here. If you prefer, make one large pie in a 6cm-deep, 20cm round dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
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Melt the butter in the pan and stir in the flour. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the fish-poaching milk, little by little, stirring between additions. When all the milk has been added, return to the heat and simmer, stirring, until thickened. Take off the heat and season.
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Carefully fold the fish chunks, peas and parsley into the sauce.
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Divide the fish and sauce between the dishes. Lay the sheets of filo in front of you, one on top of the other, and cut each sheet into 4 x 12cm squares. Place 5 squares of filo on top of each dish, spraying a little oil between layers. Sprinkle the pies with sesame seeds and bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbling.
