Chef John's Fisherman's Pie

Chef John's Fisherman's Pie
  • For potato crust:
  • 3 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • For the spinach:
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 12 ounces baby spinach leaves
  • For the sauce:
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups cold milk, divided
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • For the rest:
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 2 pounds boneless cod fillets
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives for garnish


  1. Bring a large saucepan of salted water and to a boil; add russet potatoes to boiling water and cook until very tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well. Mash in 3 tablespoons butter until thoroughly combined. Season with nutmeg, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Mash 1/2 cup milk into potato mixture until smooth.
  2. Drizzle olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add spinach, and season with a big pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach has wilted, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl lined with paper towels to wick away excess moisture.
  3. Heat 3 tablespoons butter and flour in a saucepan over medium heat; whisk mixture to a smooth paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture has a nutty smell and is slightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add chopped garlic; whisk until fragrant, 10 to 20 seconds.
  4. Whisk 1 cup cold milk into flour mixture; cook until thickened. Whisk in remaining 1 cup milk and lemon zest. Bring white sauce to a gentle simmer, whisking constantly; season with salt. Turn heat to very low and keep sauce warm.
  5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8x12-inch casserole dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
  6. Season buttered pan with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Lay boneless cod fillets into the pan in a single layer. Season tops of fillets with more salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Spread spinach evenly over fish and drizzle with lemon juice. Spoon white sauce over spinach; give casserole dish several taps and shakes to eliminate bubbles.
  7. Drop mashed potatoes by heaping spoonfuls over the casserole and spread smoothly to cover. Place dish onto a rimmed baking sheet to catch spills.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 40 minutes. Turn on oven's broiler and broil until potato crust has a golden brown top, about 2 minutes. Fish should flake easily. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of chives.

03/24/2017
Chef John's Fisherman's Pie, recipe PT15M PT1H 5 455 calories

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