Quick answer: The herring and pumpkin pie is one of the most memorable food moments in Kiki’s Delivery Service. The film shows Kiki delivering the dish, but it never gives an official ingredient list or method. This recipe is a carefully labeled FiHeroe interpretation for a cozy anime-inspired meal, not a canon Studio Ghibli recipe.
What the film actually tells us
In Kiki’s Delivery Service, Kiki accepts a delivery job from an elderly woman and carries a herring and pumpkin pie to the woman’s granddaughter for her birthday. That scene gives us the dish’s name, its role in the story, and its distinctive fish-topped presentation. It does not establish an exact recipe, the type of herring, the pastry, or the seasoning.
Canon or cook’s interpretation?
Canon: the dish appears in the film as a birthday delivery, with herring, pumpkin, pastry, and a fish motif visible in the finished pie.
Interpretation: the quantities, smoked-fish choice, aromatics, pastry technique, oven temperature, and serving suggestions below are FiHeroe’s practical adaptation. They are designed to echo the scene without pretending to reproduce information the film never provides.
Why is it often called a pumpkin pie?
The English-language name is commonly given as “herring and pumpkin pie.” In practice, this savory baked dish is closer to a fish-and-squash pie than to a sweet American pumpkin pie. Treating it as savory keeps the recipe aligned with the film’s visual idea and makes the herring the supporting flavor it should be.
FiHeroe’s herring and pumpkin pie
A fan-created, savory recipe inspired by the birthday delivery in Kiki’s Delivery Service.
At a glance
- Serves: 4
- Prep: 25 minutes
- Cook: about 45 minutes
- Style: savory fish and pumpkin pie with crisp pastry
- Skill level: comfortable beginner
Ingredients
- 1 small sugar pumpkin or 2 cups peeled kabocha squash, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 boneless smoked herring fillets, about 8 ounces total, flaked and checked carefully for bones
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus extra to finish
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt, added only after tasting the herring
- 1 sheet chilled puff pastry or pie pastry
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for the pastry wash
Method
- Roast the pumpkin. Heat the oven to 400°F. Toss the pumpkin with the oil, thyme, and pepper. Roast on a lined tray for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender but not collapsing.
- Soften the onion. Cook the sliced onion in a skillet over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Let it soften and turn lightly golden, then cool for a few minutes.
- Build the filling. Fold the pumpkin, onion, and flaked herring together gently. Taste before adding salt. Smoked herring can already be well seasoned.
- Fill the pie. Spoon the mixture into a small deep pie dish or baking dish. Cover with the chilled pastry and crimp the edge. Cut two or three vents in the top.
- Add the signature detail. Use pastry scraps to make a simple fish shape for the center. It is a visual nod to the film, not a claim that the screen version used this exact technique.
- Bake. Brush the pastry with egg wash. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375°F and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the crust is deeply golden and the filling is hot.
- Rest and serve. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with bitter greens, steamed green beans, or a crisp cucumber salad to balance the rich pastry and fish.
Ingredient swaps that still respect the idea
- Use roasted kabocha for a denser, less watery filling.
- Use boneless canned herring when smoked fillets are unavailable, draining it well and reducing the added salt.
- For a milder pie, replace half the herring with cooked white fish. Call the result a herring-inspired variation rather than an exact recreation.
- For a vegetarian version, use extra squash, sautéed mushrooms, and a little white miso. It becomes a separate interpretation, not the dish shown in the film.
Choose your finish
Make the same base recipe feel different depending on the mood of your movie night.
Classic and cozy
Keep the smoked herring, use a full pastry lid, and serve the pie warm with a simple green salad. This is the closest route to the rustic comfort suggested by the scene.
Bright and modern
Add lemon zest to the filling and serve individual ramekins with a pastry lid. The smaller portions make the fish-and-squash contrast easier to appreciate.
Most family-friendly
Use mild cooked white fish for half of the filling, keep the pumpkin in small cubes, and serve the pie with cucumber and apple. Label it as a Kiki-inspired variation so the adaptation is clear.
Build the anime-inspired table
The best companion pieces are subtle: warm lighting, a practical plate, and one character detail rather than a crowded theme park table. FiHeroe’s active catalog has a few easy ways to create that look:
- Pui Pui Molcar Plate – Bandai Melamine Dish for a playful serving piece that suits a casual cook-along.
- Bocchi the Rock Cute Anime Mugs for tea, cider, or a warm drink alongside the pie.
- Spirited Away Soot Sprites Anime Plush Keychains as a small Ghibli-adjacent accent for the movie-night setup.
For another verified Ghibli food angle, continue with Totoro’s corn cream soup. It gives this post a natural companion without repeating its recipe format.
A five-step cook-along
Save this checklist for a relaxed screening-night bake:
- Watch the delivery scene and note what the film shows, not what it leaves unexplained.
- Roast the pumpkin while the pastry chills.
- Mix the filling and taste before salting.
- Cut a fish-shaped pastry accent if you want the visual callback.
- Let the pie rest, pour the drinks, and serve it as an interpretation rather than an “exact replica.”
FAQ
Is this the official Kiki’s Delivery Service recipe?
No. The film does not publish a recipe. This is a FiHeroe fan interpretation based on the dish shown in the movie.
Is herring and pumpkin pie sweet or savory?
The film does not specify a flavor profile in recipe terms. This version is savory, using smoked herring, roasted pumpkin, onion, and pastry.
Does Kiki’s Delivery Service count as an anime series?
No. It is a Japanese animated feature film from Studio Ghibli. The recipe should be described as inspired by the film, not by an anime TV series.
Can I make this without herring?
Yes, but describe the result accurately as a herring-inspired variation. Mild cooked white fish works well, while extra squash and mushrooms create a vegetarian interpretation.
What should I serve with the pie?
Choose something fresh and lightly dressed, such as cucumber salad, bitter greens, or steamed green beans. The acidity and crunch balance the pastry and smoked fish.
Final bite
Kiki’s Delivery Service gives us a memorable image, not a locked formula. That is the fun of cooking from animation: keep the facts honest, then let the kitchen make the rest personal. If you bake this version, share your fish-shaped pastry finish and tell us whether you went classic, bright, or family-friendly.
Editorial note: This article separates details shown or named in Kiki’s Delivery Service from the original FiHeroe recipe and serving ideas. Product links lead to active items in the FiHeroe catalog at the time of editing.
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