Chef John's Classic Fisherman’s Cod Pie
Flaky cod and tender spinach are nestled in a creamy garlic and lemon sauce, then topped with a browned crust of buttery mashed potatoes seasoned with nutmeg and cayenne. Fresh chives add a bright finish, making this comforting fisherman's pie a warming choice for a family dinner or a relaxed meal on a cool evening.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook1 hr 10 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Classic Fisherman’s Cod Pie, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 11 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 47
- Heart Health
- 68
- Metabolic
- 30
- Digestive
- 25
- Inflammatory
- 59
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook until very tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well. Mash in butter until thoroughly combined. Season with nutmeg, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mash milk into the potato mixture until smooth.
- 2
Drizzle olive oil into a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and season with a big pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has wilted, about 1 minute. Transfer it to a bowl lined with paper towels to wick away excess moisture.
- 3
Heat butter and flour in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the mixture into a smooth paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture smells nutty and is slightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and whisk until fragrant, 10 to 20 seconds.
- 4
Whisk cold milk into the flour mixture and cook until thickened. Whisk in the remaining milk and lemon zest. Bring the white sauce to a gentle simmer, whisking constantly, and season with salt. Reduce the heat to very low and keep the sauce warm.
- 5
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8x12-inch casserole dish with butter.
- 6
Season the buttered pan with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Arrange the boneless cod fillets in the pan in a single layer. Season the tops of the fillets with more salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Spread the spinach evenly over the fish and drizzle with lemon juice. Spoon the white sauce over the spinach, then tap and shake the casserole dish several times to eliminate bubbles.
- 7
Drop the mashed potatoes by heaping spoonfuls over the casserole and spread them evenly to cover. Place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch spills.
- 8
Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 40 minutes. Turn on the oven's broiler and broil until the potato crust is golden brown, about 2 minutes. The fish should flake easily. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of chives.
- Calories 353.56 kcal Moderate 18%
- Protein 34.33 g Good Source 69%
- Carbohydrate 29.16 g 11%
- Total Fat 11.25 g Moderate 14%
- Saturated Fat 5.65 g High 28%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 91.99 mg High 31%
- Sodium 167.0 mg Moderate 7%
- Dietary Fiber 3.28 g Moderate 12%
- Total Sugars 6.22 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 232.15 mg Moderate 18%
- Iron 3.37 mg Moderate 19%
- Potassium 1247.13 mg Good Source 27%
- Vitamin A 73.52 mcg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin C 33.98 mg Good Source 38%
- Vitamin D 1.23 mcg Low Source 6%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Fish 🐟
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Chef John's Classic Fisherman's Cod Pie is made with 19 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr 25 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, and Butter. Each serving provides about 353.56 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Classic Fisherman’s Cod Pie made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, Butter, Cayenne Pepper. The full list of 19 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Classic Fisherman’s Cod Pie?
- About 1 hr 25 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 353.56 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Classic Fisherman’s Cod Pie easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 19 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Chef John's Classic Fisherman’s Cod Pie healthy?
- Chef John's Classic Fisherman’s Cod Pie has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 353.56 calories and 34.33 g of protein, or 69% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of potassium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 167.0 mg (7% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.65 g (28% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Fish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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