3. Jool’s fish pie
One of Oliver’s greatest missions in life is to improve the eating habits of kids around the world. Whether it’s working with the school system, teaching parents how to involve the kids in cooking, or just demonstrating delicious and simple meals for the family to eat together, his portfolio of healthy fish recipes is expansive.
In 2005, the chef launched a campaign – Feed Me Better – to encourage schools to use less junk food, prompting the government to take action. In his series, Jamie’s School Dinners, Oliver challenges school cafeterias to serve cost-effective, healthy meals that the kids would also enjoy as much as unhealthier food.
In his own family, he and wife “Jools” have always involved the kids in everything from selecting fish at the markets to preparing their own creations in the kitchen. This fish pie by Jools is a firm favorite in the Oliver household.
Jools’ Fish Pie (serves 8)
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg floury potatoes
- 4 large free-range eggs , optional
- 50 g unsalted butter
- 50 g plain flour
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- 350 ml quality fish stock
- 350 ml semi-skimmed milk , plus an extra splash
- 50 g Cheddar cheese
- ½ a lemon
- 1 heaped teaspoon English mustard
- a few sprigs of fresh flat-leaf parsley , optional
- 300 g skinless, boneless white fish , such as coley, whiting, haddock, cod, from sustainable sources
- 200 g skinless boneless salmon , from sustainable sources
- 200 g skinless, boneless undyed smoked haddock , from sustainable sources
- 200 g baby spinach
- extra virgin olive oil
- 1 whole nutmeg , for grating
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas .
- Peel the potatoes and cut into 2cm chunks, then boil for around 15 minutes, or until tender. Add the eggs for the last 8 minutes (if using).
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan over a low heat and stir in the flour. Add the bay, then bit by bit, add the stock and the milk, stirring after every addition until you have a smooth, silky sauce. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until thickened.
- Stir in the mustard, grate in half the cheese, then squeeze in the lemon juice. Pick, finely chop and stir in the parsley (if using), then keep stirring until the cheese is melted. Season with a little black pepper, then remove from the heat.
- Get yourself a 25cm x 30cm baking dish. Check that there aren’t any stray bones lurking in the fish fillets, then slice into 2.5cm chunks and spread them evenly over the base of the dish.
- Wilt and add the spinach, then peel, quarter and add the eggs (if using). Remove the bay leaves, then pour over the white sauce and allow to cool slightly.
- Drain the potatoes well and mash with a little extra virgin olive oil, a splash of milk and a few scrapings of nutmeg. Spoon the potatoes over the pie and scuff up the surface with a fork.
- Grate the remaining Cheddar over the top and bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through, the sauce is bubbling up at the sides and the top is golden.
- Delicious served with lots of green veg, or if you’re Jamie, with baked beans!
