This is a one-pan meal with fish baked on top of a potato gratin in a creamy sauce with a golden crunchy topping. It’s a cross between a casserole, gratin and a pie. This is a fabulous cosy, rustic oven baked fish recipe that’s effortless yet company worthy!
Creamy baked fish on potato gratin
This dish gives off very French-country vibes. Which, in hindsight, is rather unsurprising given it’s a recipe that our very own Chef JB just casually threw together one day. We ate it, loved it so much, declared it was “website-worthy” then proceeded to remake it…oh, I don’t know. Maybe 10, 12 times before we were fully happy with it and closed out all the “what ifs”?
Basically, it’s a creamy potato gratin, heavy on the leek (or onion), with fish that is baked on top at the same time, covered in a crunchy golden breadcrumb topping. So essentially, the breadcrumb topping acts as a lid, keeping everything steamy and succulent as the fish bubbles away in the creamy sauce, soaking up the fish juices.
It’s just an all-out cosy dish of delicious cosiness!
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this:
Best fish
I like to use barramundi (pictured above), snapper and ling for this recipe. I was going to recommend white fish fillets, but actually, salmon and trout will work fine too. Just aim for something that is around 2 cm / 0.8″ thick . We need fillets that are not too thin so it can be baked in the oven without overcooking.
Skin on or off? Either is fine, it really won’t affect the bake time. But the skin won’t be crispy. If this is a turn-off for you, just eat the flesh and leave the skin.
Suitable fish
This recipe is best made with the more delicate white fish fillets that are around 2 cm (0.8″) thick. Our favourite fish to make this with is barramundi. Here are some more fish with similar cooking characteristics that will work great:
barramundi (pictured), John Dory, snapper, basa, jewfish, blue eye cod (trevalla), tilapia, cod, halibut, pollock, hake.
Remember, the shape of fish means that you get thick cuts from the main body as well as thin cuts from towards the tail. Opt for the thicker cuts!
Fish to avoid
I recommend avoiding:
Fish that dry out easily when cooked – Like swordfish, tuna, bonito, kingfish, marlin, mackerel. Unless you’re extremely careful they can become dry inside so are very prone to overcooking in the oven. I feel these fish are (mostly) better in raw/rare form such as Ceviche, Poke Bowls, Tartare (also see Tuna Steak);
Oily, “fishy” fish – Like mullet and sardines (try this recipe for sardines!).
For the potato gratin and creamy sauce
And here’s what you need for the rest of the dish:
Potatoes – Floury (starchy) and all-rounder potatoes work best to achieve a lovely potato gratin flavour.
– Australia: the cheap dirt-brushed potatoes sold everywhere (called Sebago) are ideal
– US: Russet
– UK: Maris PiperLeek – Flavour base for the gratin. Feel free to substitute with a standard onion!
Garlic – Flavour base.
Chardonnay or other dry white wine – This gives the sauce depth of flavour. Without, it tastes more one dimensional and like it’s missing “something”. Chardonnay is my favourite but any dry white wine that’s not too sweet or too woody will work fine. Non alcoholic substitute – More vegetable stock.
Vegetable stock/broth – For semi braising the potatoes in a flavoured broth, tastier than using just water!
Butter – For pan sautéing the potatoes before finishing them off in the oven.
Panko, parmesan and olive oil – The crunchy topping!
How to make Creamy Fish on Potato Gratin
This is a one pan meal that starts off on the stove and is finished in the oven. It would be handy if the whole dish could just be done in the oven but the flavor in the end result is just not as good. Whereas using the stove-to-oven method makes it company worthy good!
Crunchy topping – Mix the panko and olive oil together, then stir through the parmesan.
Sauté the leeks and garlic, then cook the sliced potatoes for 6 minutes or until they are partially cooked. During this step, the potatoes absorb the flavour of the leek and garlic which is what makes the gratin so good!
Braise the potatoes firstly in wine for 1 minute (simmer rapidly to almost fully reduce to cook out the alcohol) then the vegetable stock for 1 1/2 minutes until reduced by half.
Top with fish pieces (which we first sprinkle with salt and pepper). Then pour over the cream, aiming for as much coverage as possible.
Topping – Sprinkle the entire surface with the crunchy topping.
Bake for 30 minutes – I PROMISE THE FISH DOES NOT OVERCOOK!! You would think it does, but it doesn’t. All that creamy goodness under the breadcrumb topping keeps everything moist and succulent!
Broil/grill 4 minutes – Then to finish it off, I like to give it a quick 4 minute blast under the oven grill/broiler to give the topping lovely colour.
Rest 5 minutes – Place on the counter and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Don’t skip this step! This is when the juices in the fish gets reabsorbed into the fibres so when you cut into the fish, it stays in the fish flesh (and ends up in your mouth) rather than running out onto the plate.
What to serve with Creamy Fish on Potato Gratin
All you need to finish off this meal is a fresh, crisp salad to serve on the side. Just toss leafy greens in French Dressing, or if you’re cooking for company, try the French Bistro Salad. On theme with the French-ish vibes going on in this dish!
I also wouldn’t say no to some crusty bread for mopping the plate clean. And for dessert – anyone for a pile of fresh baked Madeleines? Fast becoming a go-to for dinner parties because the batter is made in advance (you can even freeze it!) and stored in piping bags or jugs. Then it literally takes 2 minutes to pipe into the pan and 10 minutes to bake. How good is that!!! – Nagi x
Suggested sides
Watch how to make it
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Creamy fish on potato gratin
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Mains
French-style, Western
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
Recipe video above. This is a one-pan meal with fish baked on top of a potato gratin in a creamy sauce with a golden crunchy topping. It’s a cross between a casserole, gratin and a pie. This is a fabulous cosy, rustic oven baked fish recipe that’s effortless yet company worthy!
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan) with a shelf in the middle.
Potatoes – Cut the potatoes into quarters, then sliced 4mm / 1/6″ thick. Place cut potato in a large bowl of water (prevents from going brown, removes excess starch so it cooks quicker).
Crunchy topping: Mix panko and olive oil in a bowl. Then stir in parmesan.
Season fish: Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the fish fillets. Set aside.
Sauté – Melt butter in a large oven-proof skillet (30cm/12″) over medium high heat until foamy. Add leek and garlic, then cook for 3 minutes.
Sauté potatoes – Add potato, salt and pepper. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring regularly. The potatoes should be half cooked at this stage.
Reduce wine and stock – Turn the heat up to high, pour in white wine. Simmer rapidly until it is mostly evaporated – about 1 minute. Pour in stock, then simmer for 1 1/2 minutes or until reduced by half.
Top with fish – Turn the stove off. Place fish on top of the potatoes, presentation side up. (Note 1) Pour cream all over, aiming for full coverage. Sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs.
Bake for 30 minutes. Switch to the oven grill (broiler) on high and move the skillet up to the top shelf. Grill/broil 4 minutes or until golden.
Rest – Remove and rest for 5 minutes, then serve!
Recipe Notes:
– Australia: the cheap dirt-brushed potatoes sold everywhere (called Sebago) are ideal
– US: Russet
– UK: Maris Piper 4. Wine adds more flavour into this dish but doesn’t make it taste winey because we cook the alcohol out. Substitute with more vegetable stock. Leftovers will keep for 3 days in the fridge. Not suitable for freezing. Nutrition per serving.
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