Sussex Smokie Bake Recipe

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A twist on the Sussex Smokie Recipe. Usually served as a starter, this alternative Sussex Smokie Bake makes a filling family main meal.

I fell in love with a traditional Sussex Smokie when I had it for a starter for lunch in a lovely country pub, so I figured why not make it at home and turn it into a main meal.

Sussex Smokie is a traditional British meal made with smoked haddock in a creamy cheese based sauce and is usually served in ramekins as a starter. You will find it on many British pub menus in the South of the UK and variations of the recipe dates back to the 1800’s.

Sussex Smokie Inspiration

A while ago, I enjoyed a lovely meal at a country pub on our way back from Hampshire. I wanted to give Sussex Smokie a go since it was a locally created dish and sounded fab!

It really was amazing and at the end I longed for more of it. I really wanted to turn it into a main dish and make it a meal the whole family could enjoy. So, that’s exactly what I’ve done and man, it’s so good! It’s a budget friendly meal, that’s filling and full of nutrients and goodness. This twist on the original fish starter is a winner all around.

Nugget is totally obsessed with shoes, in fact, he’s actually more in love with shoes than I am and believe me, that’s saying something! He wants to wear them constantly. He’ll sleep in them, carry them around and god help you, should you try to remove them.

Now, we’re talking one specific pair of shoes here which would be fine had he not vastly outgrown them! I even tried to fool him with exactly the same model in the correct size. But, such a monumental tantrum ensued (and, predictably, in front of a lovely couple whose children were behaving like angels) that I decided to throw in the towel and come home.

So, as I sat at home, feeling a little defeated and imagining Nugget soon to be bursting out of his shoes. I devised a plan! We would make (other) shoes so totally exciting that he simply wouldn’t be able to resist. I began with a pair of Bam Bam’s first pair of slippers, which were now conveniently just the right size.

After a few days of singing and dancing and celebrating just how amazing these slippers were, it finally worked…. Off came his little blue shoes and on went the little red slippers, yay!

However, I clearly hadn’t thought my plan out to the conclusion. Since I now have a child who will happily wear his little red slippers but should I wish us to leave the house, outdoor shoes are complete no go!

I should have just stuck with the small shoes!

Nugget Loved this Sussex smokie recipe, polishing off a huge bowl whilst wearing his trusty little red slippers!

How to Make Sussex Smokie

You need only simple ingredients to turn this delicious traditional Sussex appetizer into a comforting main course. Smoked fish is a must since it gives this cheesy fish pie it’s flavour. Haddock is the best fish to use and you can usually buy it dyed or undyed.

You poach the haddock in a milk and cream mixture with a bay leaf. This serves to cook the smoked haddock and also adds flavour to the milk which is then used in the creamy cheese sauce.

There are various separate steps when making a fish pie like this. But when you put it altogether at the end, you can see that having a few extra pots and pans to wash was totally worth it for the result you get!

By adding potatoes and crispy crunchy topping, it’s like a simple fish pie recipe, packed full of goodness and flavour.

Sussex Smokie is Great for the Whole Family

By serving it with steamed vegetables and some fresh bread and you’ll have yourself a delicious, comforting and family friendly meal.

Freezable Family Meal

You can even freeze this smoked haddock recipe pre-baking. Simply assemble the recipe in an oven proof dish, allow it to cool and cover the dish before placing it in the freezer. This is a good option if you would like to make this haddock recipe into smaller portions.

Recipe Tips and Guidance

I recommend using whole milk and double cream for the most creamy fish pie you can get. A strong tasting mature cheddar is also a must as it pairs very well with the smokey fish.

Keep your potato cubes small and ensure that they are soft all the way through when you boil them. Don’t overdo it and turn them into mashed potato but keeping a close eye on them whilst they are boiling ensures that you don’t have under or over cooked potatoes in your smokey haddock fish pie.

Trying adding some grated parmesan to the crunchy topping to step it up a level.

Check your haddock fillets for bones after you have poached them in the milk, no one wants to find a bone in their fish pie!

If your smoked haddock comes with the skin still attached, remove the skin from the fish before poaching. It is much easier to remove this way.

Recipe FAQ

Looking for more fish recipes?

Try making your own fish fingers now.