The whole fish pie thing is one of the most homely, comforting and moreish dinners I can think of. This is a cracking recipe which does it for me.

Ingredients:

• 5 large potatoes
• 2 large free-range eggs
• 2 large handfuls of baby spinach
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• olive oil
• 250 ml double cream
• mature Cheddar or Parmesan cheese
• 1 lemon
• 1 heaped teaspoon English mustard
• 1 large handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 450 g haddock, or cod fillet, skin off, pin-boned, from sustainable sources
• 1 whole nutmeg, for grating (optional)

Method: (13 Steps)

• Preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/gas 8.
• Peel and dice the potatoes into 2.5cm chunks, then put into boiling salted water and bring back to the boil for 2 minutes.
• Carefully add the eggs to the pan and cook for a further 8 minutes, or until hard-boiled, by which time the potatoes should also be cooked.
• At the same time, steam the spinach in a colander above the pan. This will only take a minute. When the spinach is done, remove from the colander and gently squeeze out any excess moisture.
• Drain the potatoes in the colander. Remove the eggs, cool under cold water, then peel and quarter them. Place to one side.
• Peel and finely chop the onion, then peel, halve and finely chop the carrot.
• In a separate pan, slowly fry the onion and carrot in a little oil for about 5 minutes, then add the double cream and bring just to the boil.
• Remove from the heat and finely grate in 2 good handfuls of cheese, then squeeze in the lemon juice and stir through the mustard.
• Pick and finely chop the parsley and stir into the cream mixture.
• Slice the fish into strips then place in an earthenware dish with the spinach and eggs and mix together, pouring over the creamy vegetable sauce.
• The cooked potatoes should be drained and mashed – add a bit of oil, sea salt, black pepper and a touch of nutmeg (if using). Spread on top of the fish. Don’t bother piping it to make it look pretty – it’s a homely hearty thing.
• Place in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden.
• Serve with some nice peas or greens, not forgetting your baked beans and tomato ketchup. Tacky but tasty, and that’s what I like.