andrejthechef
InternationalSeafoodDinner

Herring and Pumpkin Pie

A golden, savory pie filled with herring and pumpkin, finished with a decorative fish-shaped pastry top. The pie Kiki delivers through a storm in Kiki's Delivery Service.

prep
40 min
cook
45 min
total
1 h 25 min
serves
6
level
medium
Herring and Pumpkin Pie, from Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

In Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Kiki insists on completing a delivery of this exact pie through a dangerous storm rather than let her client down, a small act of stubborn responsibility that becomes a defining early moment for her character.

Herring and pumpkin is an unusual pairing outside the film, but it genuinely works: the pumpkin's sweetness rounds out the fish's stronger flavor, and a decorative fish shape cut from the extra pastry on top is a small, charming nod straight from the movie.

Part of our 40 famous movie foods list.

method

  1. Make the pastry: rub the cold butter into the flour and salt until it looks like coarse crumbs, then add the cold water gradually, bringing it together into a dough without overworking it. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

  2. Roast or steam the pumpkin cubes until just tender, about 15 minutes, then set aside.

  3. Melt the 2 tbsp butter in a pan, and soften the onion for 5 minutes.

  4. Add the herring pieces, and cook gently for 3 to 4 minutes, until just cooked through.

  5. Stir in the cooked pumpkin, cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and let it simmer briefly to thicken slightly. Cool a little.

  6. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).

  7. Roll out two-thirds of the pastry, and line a pie dish. Fill with the pumpkin and herring mixture.

  8. Roll out the remaining pastry, and either cover the pie fully or cut decorative pieces, including a fish shape, to arrange on top. Brush with beaten egg.

  9. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the pastry is deeply golden.

  10. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

chef's tips

  • This specific pairing, herring and pumpkin, is unusual outside the film, and it works because the pumpkin's sweetness balances the herring's richer, more assertive flavor; don't be put off by the combination looking strange on paper.
  • Cutting a decorative fish shape out of the extra pastry for the top is a small, charming detail straight from the film and worth the little extra effort if you want the full presentation.
  • In Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Kiki insists on completing a delivery of this exact pie through a dangerous storm, determined not to let the client down despite the risk, a defining early moment for her character's sense of responsibility.
  • Letting the filling cool slightly before it goes into the pastry shell helps prevent the base from turning soggy as it bakes.