Fish Pie...oh my!

Last Thursday we had my parents (and tall bro) over for dinner. My parents were back from Bermuda and I picked them up from the airport at 4:30 and took them to our place for dinner. Because who doesn't want to have dinner cooked for them when they come back from a vacation?!

Horseshoe Bay beach - from www.argylerowland.com

Now having my parents over for dinner is both a lot of fun and a bit of a headache. Before you shake your head at me for saying such a thing, let me clarify. Having my parents over is a blast! Cooking an eatable dinner for my parents is not nearly as much fun. This is because my dad is allergic to onions (the whole onion family actually - that means green, red, yellow, and white onions, chives, shallots, and leeks) and - wait for it - garlic. Yes, my father cannot eat garlic. He actually can't even smell it without getting affected. So I had to make food without garlic or onions in it. And as anyone who cooks even a little bit knows that there are not a lot recipes out there that don't include (or even start without) garlic or onions.

So it was Jamie Oliver to the Rescue!

(sorry, couldn't resist, with that picture and all)

What I should say is that it was Jamie's bloody brillant Fish Pie that came to my rescue.

I procrastinated all week deciding what I was going to make and I was kind of too lazy to try and look for a new recipie - to make or even adapt so it didn't contain 'the offenders'. I also didn't want to make two separate dishes - that's only more work and let's face it, not nice for my dad.

A pretty constant staple meal a la casa de Merino however is Jamie's Fish Pie, courtsey of his Food Revolution Cookbook. And I realized while wracking my brain at 11:45pm on Wednesday night, Fish Pie doesn't call for any garlic or onions at all!

Now I did have to plan to go to the grocery store in my already busy Thursday, because we didn't have half of the ingredients, but I'm not complaining, because it turned out so good and I even got my dad to take seconds. Of FISH. and then he said they should make this at home. Like regularly. NBD.
(I'm still beaming a little today).

So in case you come across another person like my dad, or you just want a delicious meal that's pretty easy to make and doesn't require you to cry while cutting onions or slice your thumb while mincing garlic, I'm telling you - make Fish Pie!

Copyright © David Loftus

Jamie Oliver's Fish Pie

What You'll Need

• 2 lg white fish fillets (we get basa or tilapia, but Alaskan white or another equivalent firm white fish is good too) - get the freshest and most sustainably sourced fish you can; it makes a difference
• 1 450g uncooked shrimp
• 5 medium sized yellow potatoes
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 lg carrot
• 1-2 mini hot peppers (use to taste...you can leave them out too)
• half of a small block of old cheddar cheese (about 125g)
• small bunch of cilantro or parsley
• olive oil
• 2 limes
• 1 tsp butter
• splash of milk

What To Do

1. Peel your potatoes and chop into mid-size pieces. Boil in a pot of water for approximately 12 mins or until tender. Drain and mash to preferred consistency, adding a tsp of butter and splash of milk. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. While the potatoes are boiling, grate the peeled carrot, celery and cheese using a medium grater into a corningware or oven safe round dish.
3. Finely chop the cilantro and hot peppers (if using) and add to dish. Add the zest of 1 lime, the juice of half the lime and a splash of olive oil.
4. Cut fish fillets into uniform same size pieces, and de-tail the shrimp. Add to dish and mix all the ingredients with your hands until combined. Pat gently flat.
5. Spoon mashed potatoes over the top of dish, covering fish and veggie mixture completely. Bake uncovered in oven until mash potatoes are slightly browned on top, about 35-40 mins.
6. Serve immediately, with lime wedges to squeeze on top. Sometimes we add a sprinkle of grated parmesan too!

Enjoy!



Chau,
r.

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