Roasted Whole Mackerel Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN OVEN ROASTED SPANISH MACKEREL RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and set a roasting sheet pan inside to warm.
• Using a mortar and pestle, crush garlic with salt until smooth. Add coriander and cumin and continue crushing. Mix in parsley and dill.
• Pat the fish dry, inside and out. Remove the dark vein that runs along the back of the cavity, if it's still there. And if needed, run your knife along the cavity to open it up some more. Salt generously inside and on both sides outside, then place on a lightly oiled piece of foil that is large enough to enclose the fish.
• Stuff the fish cavity with lemon slices and the garlic and herb mixture you just prepared. Drizzle generously with olive oil.
• Fold the foil over the fish lengthwise, tightly closing the top seam to trap the steam. Place the foiled fish on top of the hot sheet pan and bake in the 350 degrees F heated-oven for 30-40 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.
• Remove from heat and add the lemon juice. Serve immediately with suggested sides and salads (see ingredient list).

WHOLE ROASTED MACKEREL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Using a sharp knife, make a few slashes in skin on both sides of fish. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle fish on both sides with oil; season with salt and pepper. Arrange a few lemon slices in cavity, and tuck the rest underneath fish. Tuck a handful of herbs into cavity; coarsely chop remainder and sprinkle over fish. Roast until fish is opaque and cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To serve, use a thin-bladed knife to cut fillet free from top side of fish. Gently transfer fillet to a cutting board with a spatula. Starting from the tail, slowly lift spine to separate it from bottom fillet. Slice each fillet crosswise into three portions; serve.

ROASTED MACKEREL WITH GARLIC AND PAPRIKA

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• 2. Put the garlic and paprika into a mortar, add the salt, and pound to a smooth paste. Add a few drops of olive oil, then rub the flesh side of the mackerel fillets with the paste and set aside.
• 3. Make the vinaigrette. Put all the ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together with a fork. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay the mackerel fillets skin side up on the paper and season the skin with sea salt. Roast for 8-10 minutes until the skin is crisp and the fish is cooked through. Remove from the oven and leave to rest.
• 5. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in a large pan of salted water for about 15 minutes until tender, then drain. Return to the pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Crush lightly with the back of a fork, then add the scallions and stir to combine. Season with salt, then add a couple of tablespoons of the vinaigrette.
• 6. Serve the crushed potatoes topped with the mackerel and a drizzle of the remaining vinaigrette.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make 3 diagonal slices about 1/2-inch deep on each side of the fish. Salt and olive oil the fish generously.
• Season the inside of the fish with salt and olive oil. Place 4 lemon slices, the bay leaves, a bundle of the mixed herbs and 2 of the garlic cloves inside the body cavity.
• Line a sheet tray with aluminum foil and arrange the remaining assorted herbs, lemon slices and garlic in the center of the tray and lay the fish on top.
• Fold the aluminum foil up around the sides of the fish to create a sort of baking dish. Add the white wine and place in the preheated oven and roast until the fish is just cooked through, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove from oven, present and collect your kudos then fillet to serve.

ROASTED WHOLE MACKEREL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Put a baking sheet on the rack in the center of the oven and close the door. Drizzle both sides of the fish with olive oil and season the inside and outside with salt. Stuff the cavity with the lemon slices and the leftover fennel stalks and fronds.
• Open the oven door and carry the fish over squarely in both of your hands. Put the fish in the center of the hot sheet pan and quickly close the door so minimal heat escapes. You should hear the fish sizzle slightly as it hits the hot sheet pan. Reduce the heat to 450 degrees F and cook for about 20 to 25 minutes, then open the door to look at the fish. The eyes will turn white when it s cooked. Touch the fish near the head. It should feel fairly firm, if cooked. Remove the sheet pan from the oven and allow it to rest a few minutes as is.
• Use 2 spatulas, 1 under the head and the other under the midsection, to transfer the fish to a serving platter. Use a paring knife to gently cut around the head and the tail. Cut down the length of the back until you can insert 1 of your spatulas down the length of the top fillet and lift it off the bone. Then, lift the head and the full backbone off the fish, unveiling the second fillet. Season the fish with a pinch of salt and lemon juice. Serve with lemon slices.

BROILED SPANISH MACKEREL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Lightly grease a baking dish.
• Rub both sides of each mackerel fillet with olive oil and place with the skin side down into the prepared baking dish. Season each fillet with the paprika, salt, and pepper. Top each fillet with two lemon slices.
• Bake the fillets under the broiler until the fish just begins to flake, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve immediately.

MACKEREL WITH ROASTED FENNEL, MEYER LEMON, AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice fennel into 1/2-inch wedges (reserve fronds), arrange on a rimmed baking sheet, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and roast, flipping fennel halfway through, until caramelized and golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Peel zest from lemon, avoiding white pith. Thinly slice zest on the bias. In a medium bowl combine zest with fennel, olives, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
• Butterfly mackerel by cutting lengthwise along belly of fish toward tail, then slicing along backbone (but not all the way through the fish). Gently open fish and arrange skin-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet; flatten slightly. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until cooked through and flaky, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and top with fennel mixture. Garnish with chopped fennel fronds.

GRILLED WHOLE MACKEREL WITH LEMON, OREGANO, AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Whisk together zest, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste, then add olive oil in a stream, whisking until combined well. Whisk in olives and chopped oregano.
• Make 1-inch-long slits at 2-inch intervals down middle of fish on both sides with a sharp paring knife, then brush fish all over with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper. Season fish cavity with salt and pepper, then evenly distribute 3 lemon rounds and 3 oregano sprigs in cavity. Close cavity, then evenly arrange remaining 3 lemon rounds and 3 oregano sprigs on top of fish and tie fish closed with string at 2-inch intervals, securing lemon slices and oregano sprigs to fish.
• Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderate.
• Grill fish on lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using gas grill, 15 minutes. Turn fish over using a metal spatula and tongs, then grill until just cooked through, about 15 minutes more.
• Transfer fish to a large platter using 2 metal spatulas, then cut and discard string. Serve fish with sauce.