MARY BERRYS RECIPES

Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan 140°C/gas mark 3. Pat the meat dry with kitchen paper. Put the flour on a large plate or tray, then add the mustard and season. Coat one-third of the meat in the flour. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan until hot and fry the floured meat over a medium-high heat. Remove the meat from the pan using a slotted spoon and transfer to a flameproof casserole dish. Divide the remaining meat into 2 batches and repeat the flouring and browning, adding more oil if needed.

Add the onion to the frying pan, with a little more oil if necessary, and fry for 3 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Add the celery and carrots and stir to mix, then fry for 2 minutes before tipping the vegetables on top of the meat in the casserole.

Pour the Guinness and stock into the casserole dish and add the redcurrant jelly. Mix well and bring to the boil, stirring. Add the bay leaves and season. Cover the casserole and cook for 2½ hours or until the meat is tender. Remove from the oven, taste the gravy for seasoning and leave until cold.

Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas mark 7. Roll out the pastry and cut out a lid and a strip for the lip of the pie dish. Remove the bay leaves from the casserole and stir in the parsley and thyme, then transfer the meat and vegetables to the pie dish using a large spoon, together with enough of the gravy to come just below the lip of the dish. Brush water around the lip of the dish then cut the pastry strip into smaller pieces and place the strips on the moistened lip. Moisten the strips, cover with the lid and press to seal.

Trim and scallop the edge, then brush the pastry lid with beaten egg to glaze. Use the trimmings to make decorations and re-glaze with as much of the remaining egg as needed. Cut a small slit in the centre of the lid.

Bake the pie for 30-35 minutes or until the pastry is risen and golden brown. If you have any gravy left over, reheat until bubbling, pour it into a jug, and serve alongside the pie.

Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add half of the aubergine cubes and fry until browned. Remove the aubergine from the pan and set aside. Heat another 3 tablespoons of the oil and fry the remaining aubergine. Set aside with the rest.

Heat the remaining oil in the pan. Add the onions, celery and pepper and fry over a high heat for 3–4 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for a few seconds. Return the aubergine to the pan, add the passata, olives, vinegar, capers and sugar. Season with salt and black pepper, cover with a lid and bring up to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20–25 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer for another 5 minutes, until the sauce has reduced and the vegetables are soft but not mushy.

Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crusty bread, couscous or as a vegetable side dish.

Mary’s tips:

Can be made up to a day ahead and reheated to serve.

Freezes for up to a month.

Cook time: 40 minutes plus cooling

1. Preheat the oven 200°C/180°C fan/Gas 6.

2. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for about 15 minutes or until tender, then drain and mash well before setting aside to cool.

3. To cook the haddock, arrange the fillets, skin side up, on a sheet of foil and fold over the fish to make a parcel. Place on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes or until just cooked. Open the foil and peel the skin from each of the fillets, then set aside in the tin to cool in the juices. Leave the oven switched on and place a baking sheet inside to get very hot.

4. When the fish is cold, remove from the tin (reserving the juices) and flake large pieces into a bowl (see tip). Add the mash, mix gently to combine and season with salt and pepper. Chill in the fridge while you make the sauce.

5. Melt the 15g (½oz) of butter in a small saucepan, add the 15g (½oz) of flour and whisk over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes until smooth. Heat the milk in a separate pan, then gradually whisk into the butter and flour roux until you have a thick smooth sauce. Add the mustard, lemon juice, Parmesan and parsley, along with 2 tablespoons of the reserved fish cooking juices. Tip into a bowl and leave to cool for 15 minutes.

6. Divide the fish mixture into quarters and shape into four even-sized balls. Using your thumbs, make a deep well in the centre of each ball and spoon in thick cooled sauce until it comes to within 1cm (½in) of the top. Push some of the fish mixture on top so the cheese sauce is encased within the ball, then place on a board and press down a little to flatten into a fishcake (see tips).

7. Beat the egg for the coating in a shallow bowl, sprinkle the flour on to a plate and add the breadcrumbs to another plate. Coat each fishcake all over, first in the flour, then in the egg and finally the breadcrumbs, pressing the breadcrumbs in well and up the sides to ensure the fishcake is fully covered. Set aside on a plate until ready to cook. 

8. Heat the oil and butter in a large frying pan, add the fishcakes and carefully fry over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden all over. Transfer to the hot baking sheet and slide into the oven to cook for 15 minutes or until piping hot inside

9. Serve hot with the lemon wedges.

PREPARE AHEAD: Can be made the day before. Pan-fry up to 8 hours ahead and cook in the oven (preheated as in step 1) for 30 minutes to serve.

FREEZE: Freezes well uncooked.

MARY’S EVERYDAY TIPS: Try to keep the fish in fairly chunky flakes, so the fishcakes have a good texture.

Panko breadcrumbs are my favourite as they stay crisp during cooking and give a lovely texture. Different brands vary in coarseness, however, and it’s best to use very fine breadcrumbs for this recipe. If yours are coarse, place in a resealable freezer bag and bash with a rolling pin to make them finer.

You may prefer to shape the fishcakes using wet hands – this makes it easier to handle the mash. It can be tricky to re-shape the balls once they are filled with sauce, hence not filling them quite to the top.

If you have any of the fondant sauce left over, warm through in a small milk pan and serve on the side.