Kedgeree
Smoked haddock, curried rice and soft-boiled eggs — a Victorian breakfast borrowed from khichri and improved by the theft. The poaching milk seasons the rice, so nothing is wasted.
Photograph credit: Kedgeree by User:Justinc · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · this resized copy is shared under the same licence
Method
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Put the haddock in a wide pan with the milk, bay and peppercorns. Bring to a bare simmer and poach 5 minutes, until it flakes.
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Lift the fish out, strain and keep the milk, and flake the haddock into large pieces, discarding the skin and any bones.
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Boil the eggs for 7 minutes, then plunge into iced water, peel and halve. The yolks should still be soft in the middle.
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Melt the butter in a lidded pan and cook the onion 8 minutes over medium heat until soft and golden.
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Add the curry powder, turmeric, coriander and cardamom and stir for 45 seconds, until they smell fragrant and darken slightly.
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Add the rice and stir for a minute so every grain is coated in the spiced butter.
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Pour in the stock and 150 ml of the reserved poaching milk, add the salt, bring to a boil, then cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 11 minutes.
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Take off the heat and leave, still covered, for 10 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
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Fork the rice through gently, fold in the haddock and most of the herbs, and warm through for 2 minutes.
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Top with the halved eggs, the remaining herbs and a wedge of lemon each.
Chef’s Tips
- Undyed haddock. The bright yellow kind is dyed and tastes of the dye.
- Fold, do not stir. Stirring breaks the fish into shreds and the rice into paste.
- Seven minutes for the eggs, then straight into ice. A hard yolk is a different and worse dish.
Pairing Suggestions
- Mango chutney
- A pot of strong tea
- Buttered toast
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerated for 2 days. Reheat covered with a splash of water; add fresh eggs rather than reheating the old ones.
Common questions
How long does Kedgeree take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 20 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Kedgeree?
Undyed haddock. The bright yellow kind is dyed and tastes of the dye. Fold, do not stir. Stirring breaks the fish into shreds and the rice into paste. Seven minutes for the eggs, then straight into ice. A hard yolk is a different and worse dish.
What should I serve with Kedgeree?
Mango chutney; A pot of strong tea; Buttered toast.
How should Kedgeree be stored?
Refrigerated for 2 days. Reheat covered with a splash of water; add fresh eggs rather than reheating the old ones.
Is Kedgeree suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is gluten-free, high-protein and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Kedgeree?
About 480 kcal per serving, with 32 g protein, 52 g carbohydrate and 16 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.