Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 4-6
A dish as fascinating as its history, Stargazy Pie is a traditional Cornish dish with whole fish heads poking through the crust, “stargazing” toward the sky! 🌟🐟✨ Originally created in Mousehole, Cornwall, this savory pie celebrates the legend of Tom Bawcock, a heroic fisherman who braved a storm to bring food to his starving village. 🏴☠️🔥 Rich, creamy, and packed with seafood flavor, Stargazy Pie is a dish that tells a story with every bite! 🍽️🔥
Ingredients For Stargazy Pie
🔥 For the Filling:
☑ 6 whole sardines or pilchards 🐟
☑ 1 cup white fish fillets (cod or haddock), diced 🐠
☑ ½ cup cooked bacon, chopped 🥓
☑ 1 small onion, finely chopped 🧅
☑ 2 boiled eggs, chopped 🥚
☑ 1 tablespoon🥄 butter 🧈
☑ 1 cup heavy cream 🥛
☑ ½ teaspoon🥄 dried thyme 🌿
☑ ½ teaspoon🥄 salt 🧂
☑ ½ teaspoon🥄 black pepper 🌶
☑ ½ teaspoon🥄 lemon zest 🍋
☑ 1 tablespoon🥄 flour (for thickening) 🌾
🔥 For the Pastry:
☑ 2 sheets of shortcrust pastry (homemade or store-bought) 🥧
☑ 1 egg yolk, beaten (for glaze) 🥚
👩🍳 Cooking Steps For Stargazy Pie�
🔥 Step 1: Prepare the Filling
1️⃣ In a pan, melt butter and sauté onions until soft.
2️⃣ Stir in bacon, chopped fish fillets, thyme, salt, and pepper, cooking until lightly golden.
3️⃣ Sprinkle in flour, stir, then pour in cream, allowing it to thicken slightly.
4️⃣ Remove from heat and mix in boiled eggs and lemon zest.
🔥 Step 2: Assemble the Pie
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2️⃣ Line a pie dish with shortcrust pastry and fill with the creamy fish mixture.
3️⃣ Place whole sardines (heads poking out of the pastry edge) in a circular pattern.
4️⃣ Cover with the second sheet of pastry, sealing the edges while leaving the fish heads exposed.
5️⃣ Brush with egg yolk glaze for a golden crust.
🔥 Step 3: Bake & Serve
1️⃣ Bake for 30-40 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.
2️⃣ Let cool slightly before serving with mashed potatoes and peas for a traditional touch!
🏴☠️ Stargazy Pie: A Seafaring Legend in Every Bite! 🐟🔥
A dish steeped in Cornish history, Stargazy Pie is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate! Whether you’re embracing its quirky, bold presentation or simply want to taste a piece of English coastal tradition, this iconic seafood pie is a must-try!
🌍 Craving More Extreme Culinary Adventures? If you’re fascinated by rare and ancient food traditions, explore our guide to Jhal Muri: Kolkata’s Iconic Spicy Puffed Rice Snack! You Need to Try! with Indigenous Roots for the Adventurous Food Lover.
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