Do you like dishes cooked outdoors over an open fire? I am very. And it doesn’t have to be barbecue or steaks. You can bake mackerel over a fire on a grill - it will turn out very good! It’s true, mackerel cooked on a charcoal grill is not only new and interesting, but also beautiful, appetizing, and delicious!
Another important point is that such fish cooks very quickly, even faster than meat. So you can enjoy it in just ten minutes after you start cooking.
A few nuances to make the fish tasty
There is nothing complicated in the process of preparing it, but there are still certain nuances: how to marinate fish for the grill, and how to fry it correctly... After all, if you have never cooked fish over a fire before, you will certainly have some questions. I will be happy to tell you about all this and show you step-by-step photos.
Ingredients needed
- 1 mackerel (weighing about 500 grams);
- 1 lemon;
- 1 tsp spices for fish;
- salt to taste;
- 1 sprig of parsley.
Cooking steps
In order to cook tasty and juicy grilled fish, we need fish at room temperature, not frozen. Since fresh mackerel is practically not sold in our area, I buy frozen, and then, before cooking, I defrost it naturally - that is, I leave it alone for several hours so that it reaches the desired temperature without the help of a microwave, hot water or any other food defrosting accelerators. Cut off the head of the mackerel and remove the entrails. We rinse the middle well so that it is clean. Dry the fish with a paper towel.
Then we make shallow cuts on one and the other back of the mackerel - at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. This is necessary so that the spices penetrate the fish better. Apply salt and fish spices to the surface of the mackerel. Let's not forget about the inside.
Cut the lemon in half. Squeeze out the juice from one half and distribute it again over all surfaces (internal and external) of the mackerel - as we did with salt and spices for fish. We cut the second half into half rings, which we place in the belly of the mackerel. Don’t be afraid to overdo it: lemon is the main marinade for mackerel on the grill (not counting spices), and grilled fish with lemon turns out very tasty and appetizing.
We also put a sprig of parsley into the belly of the fish. This completes the first part of the preparation. While we light the fire and prepare the coals in the grill, the fish will marinate properly.
How to grill on charcoal
When the coals are ready, place the mackerel on the grill and send it to the grill. Fish is cooked on the grill, as I already said, very quickly, literally in ten minutes. So be careful, constantly turn it over, exposing one side or the other to the coals.
Design and submission
Our mackerel is ready. Remove the finished fish from the grill. Place on a platter and serve immediately while it is still hot. Don't forget to decorate the dish with lemon, herbs and vegetables.
Clean and rinse the fish and dry it with kitchen paper towels. Make several cuts on both sides of the fish (do not cut all the way to the spine). Rub salt inside and along the sides of the fish. Set the mackerel aside for about 30 minutes. During this time, the salt will be absorbed into the fish carcass.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Set the grill rack to high and line it with foil.
Rinse the fish again, removing any excess salt. Then dry it with paper towels.
Brush the entire fish (including the head and fins) with a little olive oil (just to prevent sticking). Sprinkle lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides.
Lightly spray the foil with oil and place the fish on it. By the way, you can bake fish simply on a baking sheet greased with oil.
Bake the mackerel in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
Then remove the grill and turn the fish over to the other side. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Don't overcook. Adjust the time depending on the size and thickness of the mackerel, but remember: unlike meat, fish cooks very quickly.
Transfer the fish to a platter and serve immediately with lemon or lime, cut into halves or wedges. Pour lemon juice over the mackerel right on the plate, squeezing it from the lemon halves.
Bon appetit!
When my family goes on a picnic, we often cook amazing mackerel on the grill. This dish can also be prepared in an electric grill: the result is a very aromatic, spice-soaked, tasty, juicy fish with a crispy, golden crust - a wonderful lunch or a wonderful dinner. Mackerel prepared according to this recipe turns out very tasty, juicy and aromatic, moreover, it can be baked in this marinade mackerel in the oven.
Ingredients:
- vegetable oil - 10 milliliters;
- mackerel - 2 pieces;
- lemon (zest) - 1.5 tablespoons;
- salt - to taste;
- onion - 1 piece (medium size);
- granulated sugar - 0.5 teaspoons;
- parsley - 4 sprigs;
- thyme - 4 sprigs + 1 teaspoon (dried);
- rosemary - 2 branches;
- granulated dried garlic - 1 teaspoon;
- dried dill - 1 teaspoon;
- dried sweet paprika - 1 teaspoon;
- black pepper (ground) - a pinch;
- white pepper (ground) - a pinch.
Awesome grilled mackerel. Step by step recipe
- Remove the zest from the washed lemon. How to properly remove the zest from citrus, see our website “Very Tasty”.
- Add dry spices to it: black and white pepper, sweet red paprika, dried dill leaves, thyme and granulated garlic. Add a little salt and sweeten it.
- Pour the aromatic mixture with vegetable oil and stir.
- Peel the onion and cut into rings.
- We gut the fish, cut its belly, and wipe it thoroughly.
- Advice. To prepare grilled mackerel, you can also use frozen fish, but it is better to choose dry frozen fish.
- Lubricate the mackerel fish carcasses, outside and inside, with our spicy dressing.
- In the middle of each fish you need to put onion slices, several fresh sprigs of parsley, thyme and rosemary.
- Wrap the fish dish in plastic wrap and refrigerate to marinate for about eight hours or overnight.
- When the mackerel is well marinated, place it on the grill to bake. You can also use an electric grill for cooking.
- Advice. Before cooking, the electric grill must be greased.
- Bake the fish for about ten minutes until fully cooked.
They serve this wonderful grilled fish with vegetable garnish, fresh herbs and a slice of lemon.
Mackerel is also very tasty when marinated.
- To do this, the fish must be well gutted, washed, cut off the head and filled with brine.
- For the brine, you need to dilute one and a half or two tablespoons of salt in a glass of water, add a few bay leaves, allspice, black peppercorns, a couple of rosettes of spicy cloves.
- For a beautiful golden color, you can add onion peels to the brine. To make the mackerel salted spicy, you need to add a teaspoon of coriander grains. Place the fish in this wonderful brine and send it to a cold place for several days.
- Before serving, salted mackerel should be cut into portions, sprinkled with lemon juice, and poured with sunflower oil. Place onion rings on top and sprinkle with chopped herbs.
Visit our website “Very Tasty” and cook with us: we have many ways to prepare dishes from fish and seafood, meat and vegetables.
On the grill you can fry not only meat, but also fish, such as mackerel. It has few bones, it is juicy, tasty and healthy. Mackerel on the grill (on the grill) is a worthy substitute for any meat, and such a product is inexpensive and anyone can cook it.
Classic recipe for mackerel on the grill on the grill
To make mackerel baked on the grill even tastier, you can marinate it. Various spices, herbs, citrus juices and even beer are suitable for marinade. But you can use the classic recipe, which will also allow you to bake delicious and aromatic fish.
Ingredients (for mackerel weighing 2 kg):
- two heads of onions;
- garlic clove;
- 17 ml sunflower;
- a spoonful of fruit vinegar;
- pepper, salt.
Cooking method:
- We gut the mackerel carcasses, cut off the head, fins and tail, rinse with water and dry.
- Chop the onion into thin rings and pass a clove of the spicy vegetable through a press.
- Pour the vegetables into a bowl, pour in the oil and vinegar, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and mix the ingredients directly with your hands.
- Place the fish into the prepared mixture and stir well again by hand, cover and marinate for an hour.
- Place the mackerel soaked in spices on the grill and begin roasting over charcoal.
With honey marinade
To bake mackerel on the grill, you can prepare a honey marinade, which goes well with fish meat.
Ingredients (for 2 kg mackerel):
- two onions;
- 85 ml liquid honey;
- 25 ml soy seasoning;
- clove buds;
- ground black pepper.
Cooking method:
- For the marinade we take honey; if you have a thick product, then you need to melt it.
- Pour honey into the sauce, add finely chopped onion and spices ground in a mortar, mix.
- Place the prepared carcasses of the seafood product into the prepared mackerel marinade and marinate for an hour in a cool place.
- Afterwards, remove the onions from the carcasses, place them on the grill, press down and cook over coals.
Mackerel in soy sauce
Soy sauce is a real godsend for marinades. You can marinate meat, mushrooms and, of course, fish with it.
Ingredients:
- two mackerel;
- bulb;
- feathers of young garlic;
- 17 ml soy concentrate;
- 0.5 spoons of sugar and salt;
- a pinch of pepper.
Cooking method:
- Finely chop the onion and onion feathers, pour into a bowl, pour in soy seasoning, add pepper, salt and sweet sand.
- Marinate the cleaned mackerel carcasses for an hour.
- Afterwards, remove the garlic and onion from the carcass, transfer it to the grill and fry over coals.
Mackerel kebab
If you want to fry something unusual in nature, then we offer you the option not of meat kebab, but of mackerel in the form of rolls.
Ingredients (for 4 mackerel carcasses):
- ½ liter of soy seasoning;
- spices for fish dishes.
Cooking method:
- We cut off all the fins and head from the mackerel carcasses, clean the entrails and cut them into fillets.
- Place the fish in a deep bowl (or a 3-liter jar) and add soy and 1.5 liters of water. Add any fish spices to taste and desire, and keep in the marinade for two hours.
- Afterwards, we take out the fillet, dry it and season it with a small amount of spices, but only the meat itself, not the skin.
- Roll the fillets into rolls and immediately thread them onto skewers, but not too tightly.
- Fry the mackerel kebab on the grill for 8 minutes, do not forget to turn the skewers every minute.
With lemon and olive oil
Mackerel for frying on the grill can not only be marinated, but also stuffed. For the recipe, you can take the simplest ingredients, for example, lemon and olive oil for marinade and herbs for stuffing.
Ingredients (for 6 pieces of mackerel):
- one lemon fruit;
- a bunch of parsley;
- olive oil;
- a spoonful of pepper;
- one and a half spoons of salt.
Cooking method:
- To make mackerel tasty, the main thing is to choose good fish. Mackerel should be well-fed, with a shiny, intact skin.
- Season the carcasses with salt and pepper, pour a little olive oil into the belly, and add two sprigs of parsley and a slice of citrus.
- Sprinkle the mackerel with lemon juice on top and marinate for three hours.
- Then we transfer the fish to the grill and place it on the grill. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes, turning the fish over every five minutes.
Tender fillet on the grill
You can fry whole mackerel carcasses or fillets on the grill. We will bake the fish fillet on the grill in foil so that the meat turns out tender and juicy.
Ingredients:
- mackerel fillet (4 pcs.);
- 75 ml white (dry) wine;
- 10 g Provencal herbs;
- salt, pepper, coriander to taste;
- oil.
Cooking method:
- We take two mackerel carcasses and fillet them. If you have frozen fish, then you should not defrost it completely, this will make it easier to clean not only all the insides, but also the bones.
- Salt and pepper the fillet, sprinkle with Italian herbs, pour wine over it and leave to marinate for a quarter of an hour.
- Spray a sheet of foil with oil and lay out the fillet, wrap and bake on the grill for 20 minutes. Mackerel in foil is not only very tasty, but also tender.
Outdoor recreation is the best way to spend time with family and friends. Cooking barbecue becomes an integral attribute of an outing into clean air. However, in addition to the traditional dish, you can diversify the table with grilled mackerel.
Not only does the fish have excellent taste, but it also contains a minimal amount of bones. Interested? In this case, we suggest starting cooking with several types of marinades.
How to marinate fish
Before grilling, it is advisable to marinate the fish in order to add richness and a hint of piquancy to the already excellent taste.
Technology:
Method 2
What is necessary:
- mackerel – 2 carcasses;
- parsley with celery - one root each;
- lemon;
- sprigs of dill with parsley to taste.
How long to cook: 3 hours.
Number of calories: 60 kcal.
Technology:
- Rinse the carcasses, if necessary, defrost in natural conditions, cut into slices and remove the entrails;
- Chop the parsley and celery roots into pieces. Place in a deep bowl;
- Chop parsley with dill and stuff fish pieces with herbs;
- Next, we place the ingredient in a bowl with the celery and dill roots. Season thoroughly with salt and finally pour in squeezed citrus juice;
- Marinate the fish for 3 hours in the refrigerator. If there are no time restrictions, it is better to remove the ingredient for one night.
Method 3
What is necessary:
- fresh mackerel carcasses – 5 pcs.;
- capers – 3 tsp;
- onions – 2 heads;
- ground paprika – 1 tsp;
- sprigs of fresh thyme – 5 pcs.;
- garlic clove;
- soy sauce – 50 ml;
- tomato – 1 or several.
How long to cook: 20 minutes prep + 2 hours marinating.
Number of calories: 82 kcal.
Technology:
- Clean and gut fish carcasses;
- Cut the onions into thin half rings, cut the garlic in half, and cut the tomatoes into small cubes;
- Place prepared onion, a sprig of thyme and a little capers into each cut fish belly;
- Place the remaining onions, tomatoes and garlic on top of the fish;
- Pour the sauce over it all and sprinkle with paprika;
- Send the ingredient to marinate for 2 hours. After an hour, turn the fish over so that the ingredient is marinated on each side.
Grilled mackerel recipe
In this recipe, it is advisable to use fresh mackerel rather than salted mackerel.
What is necessary:
- lemon – 2 pcs.;
- thyme with rosemary - 2 sprigs each;
- mackerel – 2 carcasses;
- ground white pepper to taste;
- olive oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
- salt to taste.
How long to cook: 50 minutes.
Number of calories: 110 kcal.
Technology:
- At the initial stage, it is necessary to gut the fish carcasses and be sure to rinse them with water;
- Make 4 cuts along the ridge up to 1 cm deep;
- Cut half of one lemon into thin half-rings, and squeeze out the juice from the second part, which must be mixed with oil and sprinkled with the resulting mixture on the fish carcasses;
- Next you need to sprinkle and rub the fish with a mixture of white pepper and salt;
- Insert a slice of citrus and a sprig of rosemary and thyme into the cuts made at the first stage. In this form, the fish should marinate for about 30 minutes;
- Fry the marinated carcasses on each side for 8 minutes;
- Before serving, squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon and pour it over the finished dish.
Mackerel in foil
This fish is prepared on the grill in different ways. But the most proven and recommended option is the one with foil.
What is necessary:
- lemon;
- parsley with dill - to taste;
- tomato;
- mackerel – 2 pcs.;
- mayonnaise to taste;
- bulb;
- salt and pepper are added to taste.
How long to cook: 35 minutes.
Number of calories: 66 kcal.
Technology:
- The washed and cleaned fish carcasses must be rubbed with a mixture of salt and pepper, and at the end, several cuts must be made across;
- Carefully place half rings of onion, lemon and tomato into each fish, and put a mixture of fresh herbs into the cut belly;
- Coat the surface of the mackerel thoroughly, but not in large quantities, with mayonnaise and carefully wrap the ingredient in foil;
- The fish is fried for about 15 - 20 minutes at a moderate temperature set on the grill;
- At the end of the heat treatment, the foil must be opened and kept in this state on the grill for a few more minutes. the dish is ready.
According to this recipe, the mackerel will be juicy, and thanks to the seasonings and additional ingredients, aromatic and tasty.
How to cook fish in the oven
One of the universal dishes, based on this recipe, can be prepared in foil (or a special sleeve) in the oven. In this case, the product will bake evenly, and thanks to the “packaging” it will retain its aroma and juiciness.
What is necessary:
- fish (mackerel) – 1 carcass;
- special mixture of seasonings for fish;
- onion head;
- mayonnaise – 3 tbsp. l.;
- lemon;
- add pepper and salt to taste;
- tomato sauce – 2 tbsp. l.
How long to cook: 45 minutes.
Number of calories: 130 kcal.
Technology:
- If necessary, the carcass must be defrosted, but not in a microwave oven, but under natural conditions, otherwise microwaves will destroy the beneficial qualities of the product. Clean the fish and remove the entrails. After all the films have been cut, cut the ingredient into equal pieces;
- Roll each piece in the fish mixture, pepper and lightly salt if necessary;
- Do not cut the onion into thick rings, but in a separate bowl mix the sauce with mayonnaise;
- Preheat oven;
- Dip each piece of fish product in the prepared tomato-mayonnaise sauce and place on a baking sheet, which must be covered with parchment in advance;
- Place onion rings between the pieces and pour the remaining sauce over the entire dish;
- Bake for 30 minutes until crispy on the surface.
Serve the dish with lemon wedges.
- As mentioned earlier, defrosting should take place under natural conditions. However, to make cutting the product easier, you should not wait until it is completely defrosted. Be sure to cut off the fins and head, and also do not forget to remove the dark film that is in the abdominal cavity. If this is not done, the finished dish will be very bitter;
- If you plan to fry a whole carcass, the process will take about 15 minutes for each side. Accordingly, the duration of frying small pieces will take less time. Approximately 7 minutes on each side;
- When frying mackerel on the grill, you need to use butter or vegetable oil. Olive oil will smoke when heated, so it is better to discard it;
- Be sure to marinate the mackerel. During frying, the product gives off an unpleasant aroma, which is why many people do not undertake to cook this type of fish. But by keeping it in the marinade for at least half an hour, you can avoid the specific smell.
