Stargazy pie is a British pie associated with Cornwall that features fish heads and tails arranged to appear through its pastry crust.
The dish is traditionally linked with the village of Mousehole and the Tom Bawcock’s Eve celebration on 23 December. According to local legend, Bawcock saved the village from famine by going fishing during a storm and returning with a large catch.
The fish are baked beneath pastry, with their heads positioned upward. This arrangement allows oil released during cooking to run back into the pie. Pilchards, now usually called sardines, are the fish most closely associated with the traditional dish.
Stargazy pie is a regional speciality rather than an everyday national dish. Its unusual appearance has made it one of the most recognizable examples of Cornish food heritage.