Cullen skink pie

Categories: November

Ingredients

• 450ml full-cream milk
• 284ml double cream
• 750g thick, undyed smoked haddock fillet
• 6 black peppercorns
• 1 bay leaf
• 225g floury potatoes, diced
• 2 small leeks, washed and thinly sliced
• 50g butter
• 45g plain flour, plus extra to dust
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 500g chilled puff pastry
• 1 medium egg yolk, beaten

Directions

1. Put the milk, cream, haddock, peppercorns and bay leaf into a pan, bring to the boil, cover, and simmer gently for 7 minutes. Lift the fish onto a plate to cool. When cool enough to handle, break into large flakes, discarding the skin and bones.

2. Strain the cooking liquor, return the liquid to the pan and add the potato. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes, then add the leeks and simmer for a further 1-2 minutes, until the leeks and potato are just cooked. Lift out with a slotted spoon and set aside with the haddock.

3. Melt the butter in a clean pan, add the flour and cook gently for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the cooking liquor and bring back to the boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and leave to simmer gently for 5 minutes. Stir in the fish, leeks, potato and parsley, and season. Spoon into 4 × 400ml ovenproof dishes. Chill for 1 hour.

4. Divide the pastry into four. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface, to form a rectangle lightly larger than the tops of the dishes. Cut a thin strip from the edge of each piece, brush with a little water and press onto the rim of each dish. Brush once more with water, then cover with the pastry. Press the pastry edges together to seal, trim away any excess pastry. Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 200˚C/fan 180˚C/gas 6. Brush the beaten egg yolk over the top of each pastry lid. Cut a small slit in the centre and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the pastry is crisp and golden.

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