Old- Fashioned Fish Bake

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 -1 1/2 lb haddock, boned and cut into 2-inch chunks (or other thick, fish)
• 2 leeks, and pale green parts only, thoroughly washed and sliced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons cream
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons grated irish cheddar cheese
• fresh parsley, for garnish

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f generously grease an ovenproof casserole dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter. lay in the fish, skin side down.
• 2 in a saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining butter, add leeks and cook gently until the leeks begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. stir in the flour and cook until smooth, another 1 to 2 minutes. whisk in the milk and cream, add the bay leaf and parsley, and bring to a boil, stirring continuously. when sauce is smooth, remove from heat and spoon over the fish. cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 25 minutes.
• 3 remove from oven,discard the bay leaf, sprinkle cheese over the fish and place under the broiler until browned. garnish with parsley sprigs. serve with boiled potatoes and a fresh green vegetable or salad.
• 4 variations:.
• 5 for a fish bake with spinach, layer 1 pound of fresh spinach, steamed for 1 to 2 minutes in 2 tablespoons of water, over the haddock and cook as above.
• 6 for a fish bake with potato crust, bake as above for 15 minutes, omit the grated cheese, add a layer of mashed potatoes and return to oven for final 10 minutes. place under the broiler until browned.