Boxing Day Cod and Leek Pie with Fizz

By the time Boxing Day rolled round and we had cleaned up the discarded Xmas gift-wrapping no one was in the mood for spending more time in the kitchen.  The glass recycling leaning tower of Pisa was testimony to much alcohol-fueled merriment and sore heads.

But tummies started rumbling so we had to come up with a quick meal that would fill the gap and something to drink that would not add to the dull thud in our heads.  The solution:  Cod and Leek Pie with Mark & Spencer’s Cloudy Apple and Ginger Fizz.

This took all of 15 minutes to prep, 25 minutes to cook and 12 minutes to get to the point where we were fighting over who gets to lick the crumbs from the baking tray.

• 500g boneless chunky cod fillet, cut into large chunks  (we used frozen cod as the seasonal holidays prevented us from getting fresh fish on the day but if worked fine)
• 2 leeks, chopped
• 220g spinach leaves (baby is probably better but we used the big ones)
• 250g double cream (indulge a little – its Xmas after all)
• 1 good dash of olive oil
• Seasoning salt & pepper

• 5 large floury potatoes (e.g. Maris Piper) peeled & quartered
• 4 tbsp cream from the tub mentioned above
• 1 tbsp margarine
• Seasoning salt & pepper
• Large pinch of grated nutmeg

• Preheat oven – 200ºC/400ºF/Gas Mark 6.
• Put a pan on medium heat, add olive oil & sweat the leek – soften, don’t brown
• Add spinach to the pan.  Give it a bit of a stir & cook for 2 minutes
• Season well
• Put the cod into an ovenproof dish – medium size – this is pie not pancake.
• Dump half the leek & spinach mix on top of the fish.
• Liquidize the rest with the cream and pour around the fish.
• For the mash boil potatoes until tender.
• Drain and add cream, margarine, salt, pepper & nutmeg. Mash it up.
• Scoop onto the fish & leeks mixture spreading the potato out. Scar the potato with a fork to get more crispy bits in the bake. Yum
• Cook for 25 minutes until the potato is golden.  The sauce should bubble around the edge so it’s a good idea to put the dish on a bigger tray if you don’t fancy having to spend the rest of the day cleaning the oven.

I love ginger and bubbles so the Mark & Spencer’s Cloudy Apple and Ginger Fizz (about £4) was a perfect match that delivered on all accounts!  It’s juicy & tingles on the tongue with a peppery ginger kick.  This proved that this fizz is not a summer only drink. Note that there is a tiny dash of alcohol in the bottle so not strictly alcohol free.