Traditional Kedgeree Recipe

Written by
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
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Elaine Lemm
Updated 06/18/19
Kedgeree in a pot

  The Spruce
  • Total: 60 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 45 mins
  • Yield: 4 Servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
1036 Calories
41g Fat
92g Carbs
73g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 Servings
Amount per serving
Calories 1036
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g 53%
Saturated Fat 21g 104%
Cholesterol 673mg 224%
Sodium 990mg 43%
Total Carbohydrate 92g 33%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Protein 73g
Calcium 359mg 28%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Kedgeree is one of those classic recipes which has made its way into British Food without question as to its origins, or the name, which is unusual. The dish is considered a traditional British food though, in fact, it originated in India. With curry and rice, eggs, and smoked fish, it is easy to see the Indian influence running through it.

Kedgeree began its life as khichari, a dish of rice and lentils in India. It slowly transformed into the current dish during the time of the British Raj with those returning from their time in the sub-continent bringing it with them until slowly it became part of the food of these isles.
It is considered a breakfast dish, but enjoyed for a light lunch, and it has even been known to be eaten for dinner as well. Why not? It IS delicious. 

Ingredients

  • 4 large fresh free-range eggs
  • 6 ounces Basmati rice
  • 1/2 pint water (cold)
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 2 ounces butter
  • 2 large onions (peeled and finely sliced)
  • 1 pound smoked haddock
  • 7 fluid ounces milk
  • 4 teaspoon curry powder
  • 6​ cardamom pods
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 lemon (juiced)
  • 1/2 ounce flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Kedgeree Recipe
     The Spruce

  2. Bring a small saucepan of water to the boil, add the eggs, and turn down to a gentle simmer for 3 minutes.

    Eggs boiling in water
    The Spruce 

  3. Remove the eggs from the heat, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and leave for 10 minutes.

    Eggs boiling
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  4. Remove the eggs from the water, peel, and keep to one side.

    Peeled eggs on a plate
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  5. In another large saucepan, put the rice with 1/2 pint of cold water and a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and keep covered for a further 10 minutes.

    Rice boiling in a pot
     The Spruce

  6. Melt the butter in a large roomy pan or casserole dish, add the onion, cover with a lid and cook gently until the onions are soft - approximately 10 minutes.

    Onions in a pan
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  7. Place the fish in another large saucepan, and cover it with the milk. If the milk doesn't cover the fish, add little boiling water.

    Fish boiling in milk
     The Spruce

  8. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down, and cook the fish, uncovered, for 6 minutes or until the thickest part of the fish turns opaque.

    Fish boiling in milk
     The Spruce

  9. Take the fish from the milk and remove any skin and bones.

    Skinned fish on a plate
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  10. To the onions, add the curry powder, cardamom, and bay leaves. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the rice. Stir well. It should be a lovely golden color throughout.

    Rice, curry and onions in a pan
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  11. Flake the fish into large chunks, then add to the rice and onions.

    Fish, rice, onions and curry in a pan
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  12. Quarter the cooked eggs, add to the rice, and stir gently, reserving 4 of the quarters for decoration.

    Eggs, fish, rice, onion and curry in a pan
     The Spruce

  13. Add the lemon juice, season with a little salt and pepper, and stir again.

    Kedgeree in a pan
     The Spruce

  14. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately garnished with the eggs and lemon wedges if using.

    Kedgeree topped with boiled egg and lime
     The Spruce

  15. Enjoy!