Smoked Mackerel and Horseradish Pasties
Pasties packed with smoked mackerel, fluffy potato, spring onion and a kick of horseradish, good hot or cold for lunchboxes.
Made with Shortcrust pastry. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.17 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Boil the potato in salted water for 8 to 10 minutes until just tender. Drain and leave to steam dry for 5 minutes.
9 min - 2
In a bowl, gently mix the potato with the mackerel, spring onions, horseradish, soured cream, parsley and lemon zest. Season with black pepper only. Cool completely.
- 3
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Roll out your ready made shortcrust pastry (see the base recipe) and cut 4 circles about 18 cm across.
- 4
Spoon the filling onto one half of each, brush the edges with egg, fold over and crimp firmly.
- 5
Place on a lined baking tray, brush with egg and cut a small slit. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden and hot through.
28 min 20 s - 6
Rest for 5 minutes and serve with a green salad or pickled beetroot.
Tips
- Smoked mackerel is salty, so season the filling very lightly.
- Dry the potato well after boiling so the filling is firm and does not leak.
- Add a little chopped dill or a few capers for extra flavour.
Storing and freezing
Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days and eat cold or reheat at 180C (fan 160C) for 12 minutes until hot through. Unbaked pasties freeze for 1 month.
Questions
Can I use hot smoked salmon?
Yes. Use the same weight. It is less oily than mackerel, so a spoonful of extra soured cream helps keep the filling moist.
Are they good cold?
Yes, they are excellent cold, which makes them good for picnics and lunchboxes. Cool fully before packing and keep them chilled.
How strong is the horseradish?
Creamed horseradish is mild to medium. Use 1 tablespoon for a gentle flavour or 3 for a stronger kick.
More made with shortcrust pastry
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.