Stargazy pie
☠☠☠☠
A savoury pie with fish heads poking through the crust and “gazing at the stars”: perhaps Cornwall’s most theatrical dish.
What it is
A savoury pie with fish heads poking through the crust and “gazing at the stars”: perhaps Cornwall’s most theatrical dish.
Why is Stargazy pie on a site called Food Horrors? Because its ingredients, aroma or texture can surprise people who did not grow up with it. That does not make the dish inferior: this project treats unusual food as culture first, spectacle second.
Ingredients
- cleaned whole sardines or pilchards
- shortcrust pastry
- potatoes
- hard-boiled eggs
- onion and parsley
How to prepare it
- Have the fish thoroughly gutted and cleaned.
- Prepare a filling with potatoes, onion and eggs.
- Arrange fish so the heads protrude through the pastry lid.
- Bake until pastry and fish are fully cooked.
Taste, texture and how to serve
Approach the dish with a small tasting portion. The goal is not a stunt: observe aroma, temperature, texture and the traditional accompaniments. Strong flavours become easier to understand when tasted in their original culinary context.
Watch
Where to try it
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No approved venue is currently linked to this dish. Suggest one.
Editorial content for cultural and informational purposes. Recipes may require adaptation to local food law, allergies and individual dietary needs.