Cod Scallops Salmon Fish Pie With Prawns

This classic cod and salmon fish pie with scallops and prawns has a creamy white sauce and a crispy topping made with breadcrumbs flavored with basil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. It is packed with vegetables like leeks, carrots and celery. An inspiration from an Irish fish pie I had in Howth near Dublin, where the Atlantic seafood was freshly brought into the harbor by the fishing vessels.

Jump to:

• Fish pie with prawns
• More seafood: cod, salmon, scallops
• Ingredients for the fish pie
• How to make the white sauce
• Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• Preparing the seafood for the pie
• Tips for making the best fish pie
• What do you serve with fish pie?
• Gourmet fish pie
• Make ahead and freeze
• FAQ
• Recipes you might also like
• 📋Cod Scallops Salmon Fish Pie With Prawns
• Howth Irish fishing village
• Seafood from the Irish sea

Fish pie with prawns

This Irish fish pie was so good that I had to try and reproduce it, of course, using the typical seafood from the Dublin Bay: cod, salmon, scallops, and of course, Dublin Bay prawn.

As Dublin Bay prawns are not easy to get here in the Mediterranean, I use the San Remo Bay prawns. The key to this recipe is to use good quality seafood, whether fresh or frozen, to make sure you can taste the sea.

More seafood: cod, salmon, scallops

In this recipe, I use salmon, cod, shrimp, and scallops, but you can use any other combination of fish as long as they are chunky pieces and flaky, like the salmon and the cod.

The combination of these Atlantic seafood makes the pie so rich and tasty, you cannot stop eating it.

The seafood is mixed in a creamy white sauce with carrots, leeks, and some lemon zest to bring depth to the dish. All are topped with a crunchy layer of breadcrumbs flavored with garlic, basil, and Parmesan.

Leeks are an important addition to the fish pie as their delicate sweet flavor enhances the seafood without overpowering it. Onions would be too strong for it.

A simple potato salad is seasoned with basil and extra virgin olive oil to accompany the dish.

Ingredients for the fish pie

• 11 oz - 300 g salmon
• 11 oz - 300 g cod
• 7 oz - 200 g prawns
• 7 oz - 200 g scallops
• 1 leek
• 2 small carrots
• 1 stalk of celery
• 2 tablespoon butter
• ½ lemon zest
• salt and pepper

I like to add ½ cup of white wine to give the fish pie an extra sweetness. It is not necessary but it does make a difference.

You also need:

• 2 cups of bechamel sauce
• 1 cup of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

How to make the white sauce

To make the white sauce, also known as white roux, you need the following ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon of flour
• 2 tablespoon of butter
• 1 ¼ cup of milk
• 1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• salt & pepper

Here is how to make it:

1. Stir the flour and butter in a pan over low heat for 1 or 2 minutes with a wooden spoon to create a white roux.
2. Remove from the heat and gradually add the warm milk making sure no lumps are formed.
3. Put back on the heat and bring to the boil stirring constantly.
4. Lower the heat and keep stirring until it reaches the right consistency.
5. Add salt and nutmeg at the end.

If you have never made a white sauce at home and you want more guidance you can find more detailed recipes here: homemade bechamel.

Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

I always use Italian seasoned breadcrumbs in many of my recipes, that is why I usually prepare a large amount and keep it in the freezer. They don’t need to be defrosted ahead of time.

If you want to know more about it you can read the article: Grated Parmesan and Breadcrumbs. also check out the article: Once a Month Freezer Meal Prep to find out what else I keep in my freezer.

I always keep the stale bread aside and when I have time I prepare the breadcrumbs and freeze it. Here are the ingredients I use in proportion to 3 cups of grated stale bread:

• 3 cups of grated stale bread
• ½ cup of parmesan
• ½ cup of basil leaves or parsley
• 1 garlic cloves

If you are making it only for this recipe use the amount listed on the recipe card below

Preparing the seafood for the pie

1. Clean and cut all the vegetables into small pieces
2. Stir fry the vegetables in the pan with butter at low heat, making sure they don’t burn.
3. Gently place the salmon and the cod cut into large cubes on top, adding salt and lemon zest.

4. After 2 minutes turn the fish gently making sure you don’t break it.
5. Add the scallop and the shrimps, cooking them lightly making sure they are still raw in the center.
6. Add salt and white sauce, gently stirring all always making sure the fish does not break.

Hint: stir frying the seafood before making it is an important step to prevent the fish pie from getting runny. The seafood is sealed and the water released in the pan evaporates. Although, make sure the seafood is still raw inside when you transfer it into the baking dish. You do not want to over cook your seafood as it gets dry and tough.

7. Once is all mixed but still a bit raw, pour the mixture into a ceramic baking tray.
8. Cover the top with the bread crumbs and spread several swirls of butter so the top forms a nice crunchy top when cooked in the oven.

9. Put in the oven for 20 minutes at 355 F - 180 C and serve hot.

Tips for making the best fish pie

• Choose good quality fish either fresh or frozen
• The fish should not break into small pieces, you need to have nice large chunky bites
• Stir the fish very gently and the least possible otherwise you risk to break it
• Make sure the seafood is not completely cooked before you put it back in the oven, fish should never be overcooked.
• You can use only cod and salmon if you cannot find large prawns or scallops
• You can use other types of seafood as long as it is chunky
• I do not top the breadcrumbs with mashed potatoes as I want to keep a nice crispy top

What do you serve with fish pie?

As this fish pie is already very rich, creamy and packed with flavors, it is best to serve a simple side dish.

Here I serve it with an Italian baby potato salad seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and basil.

Other side dishes you can serve it with are: baked pilaf rice, baked and microwaved potatoes, or a crispy fried polenta cakes.

Those side dishes are very mild in flavor and firm in texture, the best combination for a creamy and rich main like this fish pie.

For seafood ideas for the Feast of Seven Fishes, check out this Web Story.

Gourmet fish pie

This fish pie is an excellent option for a Christmas Eve seven fishes menu, an Italian tradition. In Italy, it is a tradition to only eat fish on Christmas Eve, known in the USA as the seven fishes menu. I am not sure about the 7 but we do eat a lot of fish, after all Christmas is for indulging.

So in this pie, you already have 4 fish: cod, salmon, scallops and prawns. For Christmas, I like to make it extra special and add lobster tails. So you already have 5 of your 7 fish in one dish. Which leaves you the option to make an appetizer with the remaining 2 fish!

You can serve the fish pie with baby potato and basil, and blini with salmon or warm octopus salad for starters.

Make ahead and freeze

This pie is perfect to prepare for dinner parties as you can make it ahead of time, keep it in the fridge and just put it in the oven 20 minutes before serving it.

If the fish was not previously frozen and this fish pie is suitable for the freezer. You can prepare the pie and freeze it before you bake it.

Just defrost and bake when you need. Although remember to add some extra baking time if the pie is still cold.

FAQ

Recipes you might also like

If you are looking for more Italian Seafood recipes, you can check the category: seafood

Also check the recipes below:

• Warm Octopus Salad “Legs” and Potato
• Healthy Cod Recipe
• Homemade Paella Seafood And Sausage
• Pasta With Black Ink Cuttlefish Recipe
• Swordfish Wheel
• Baked Swordfish and Braciolette
• Whole Sea Bream Recipe Cooked in Salt
• Stuffed Calamari Recipe
• Fried calamari

If you are making this Cod Scallops Salmon Fish Pie With Prawns, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

Howth Irish fishing village

Howth is a charming village on the outskirts of Dublin, located in the northern peninsula of the Dublin Bay.

Besides its beauty, Howth is an active fishing centre with many fishing vessels offloading their catch every day and receiving their routine maintenance. In Howth's Harbour, seafood caught in the Dublin Bay and the Irish sea is collected and processed for distribution.

The piers are famous for their seafood restaurants, you cannot get fresher fish than there. Coupled with all the other touristic attractions such as hiking, cycling and sailing, Howth is a seafood lovers paradise.

For us, it is a tradition. Every time we visit my husband's family in Ireland, we always stop in Howth for dinner before flying back home.

Seafood from the Irish sea

Along the harbour pier, several seafood restaurants propose classic Irish seafood dishes prepared with the fresh fish brought by the fishing vessels.

The choice is vast, cod, salmon, scallop and Dublin bay prawns cooked in different ways, chowder, fried, baked. All the restaurants are always very busy so try to make a reservation. I recommend Deep (unfortunately a victim of COVID19, the restaurant is now closed).

It offers classic Irish cuisine with a twist, good service with an informal modern dining setting.

If you are travelling to Ireland, I recommend you to stop here where I had this fantastic fish pie.