Simple and quick ways to cook fish are best for mackerel. Roasting, grilling or barbecuing is the best way to cook mackerel. Moreover, the fat content of this fish makes it possible to serve it with juicy fruits and spicy Asian sauces.
Grilling mackerel is a great alternative to kebabs, which are heavy and not very healthy foods.
A simple grilled mackerel recipe
To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:
- 4 fillets of mackerel
- 15 ml / 1 tablespoon of water
- 30 ml / 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 10 g / 1 dessert spoon of brown sugar
- 5 g / 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
- 5 ml / ½ teaspoon lime juice
- 150 g fennel
- 6 ml / 1 teaspoon of lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 20 ml / 4 teaspoons olive oil
- 5 g / 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 g / 1 pinch of white pepper
- 5 g / 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds soaked in warm water for 2 hours and then fried
Core the fennel and then cut it into very thin slices using a vegetable cutter. Place it in a bowl of ice water and let sit for 20 minutes.
In another bowl, combine water, soy sauce, sugar, ginger and lime juice, taste the mixture, and adjust the amount as needed.
Preheat the grill to a high heat, select the bones from the fillets and peel off the skin slightly (about 2 cm from the edges). Place the mackerel skin side up on a wire rack and grill for about 4-5 minutes, or depending on fillet thickness, until tender.
While the fish is browning, drain the fennel, scoop up the moisture with a dry kitchen towel and place in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice and sprinkle with seasoning. Stir well and add toasted fennel seeds. Divide the salad into portions and place the grilled mackerel on top.
The second option for grilled mackerel
Try grilling Asian-style grilled mackerel.
You will need the following ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 4 small mackerels, peeled
- 1 large red chili, finely chopped
- 1 small clove of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 small piece of fresh ginger root, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- finely grated zest and juice of 2 limes
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Thai fish sauce
Turn on the grill, preheat it well, and then reduce the intensity of the heat. Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large bowl and mix with the other ingredients, adjusting the ratio of honey to lime. As a result, you should have a sweet and sour sauce with a rich taste.
Dip each mackerel well in the prepared sauce and let it soak into the fish. Then take a cooking brush and dab the rest of the marinade on the fish. Place it on the grill and simmer for 5-6 minutes on each side, until the fish is golden brown and the eyes turn white. Sprinkle the mackerel lightly with water and leave on the off (but not yet cooled) grill for 2-3 minutes before serving.
