When it comes to enjoying a fish dish, some people are often apprehensive about the type of fish they choose. This is especially true for fish that has a strong aroma, and indeed – this is no exception when it comes to mackerel.
Mackerel is well known for having a strong, powerful fish aroma, and this can be a turning point for some people at restaurants in making their final decision on the menu.
However, if you’ve never had mackerel before, you might be wondering how exactly it tastes and whether or not you’d enjoy it.
In short, many people compare mackerel to tuna or salmon – and this is true to some extent. But, that’s not the full story. So we’ve written this handy guide which explains all you need to know.
We’ll look at what mackerel actually is, how it tastes, if you’ll enjoy it and a lot more! So, if you’re ready to learn more, then read on!
What Is Mackerel?
As we said, it’s probably best that we start off this guide by examining what mackerel actually is. Mackerel is one of over 21 species of fish within the Scombridae family.
Due to its unique and very clear features, mackerel is very easily identifiable.
These include their striped backs, forked tails and silver stomachs. But where exactly would you hope to see these features in the world?
Well, mackerel generally lives in tropical waters which are offshore, but some can sometimes be found closer to land in temperate waters.
Mackerel are a very important staple of our food chain for both humans and other animals alike.
These include whales, dolphins, sharks, birds and even other fish, and they enjoy the nutritional benefits of Omega 3 and the versatile taste.
As a result of this, millions of mackerel are harvested every single year. However, it’s important to note that mackerel tends to expire much quicker than other types of fish.
While this isn’t problematic for some other animals, we need to be careful.
How Does Mackerel Taste?
As we mentioned earlier, some people describe the taste and texture of mackerel similar to that of tuna or salmon.
Whilst this is partially the case, mackerel is much more oily than these fish and comes with a much stronger fishy aroma – especially when it’s expired.
Bizarrely, the smell of mackerel is much more powerful when it has been cooked than when it is raw and extremely fresh. Of course though, it is not always possible to enjoy mackerel in this way unless you live right by the coast.
Despite this powerful aroma though, mackerel tastes fantastic. It has rather sticky and firm flesh but when it has been properly prepared and cooked on a grill, the meat becomes very tender.
It has a much sweeter taste than some other fish, and it can be quite deceptive due to their aroma. This is because you’d likely automatically assume the taste to be very salty, but it isn’t.
Due to oily nature, its flavor is very savory and strong – which for some people might be a little off-putting, but for others it is ideal.
It also has fewer bones than some other fish, and this makes it ideal for lots of people who despise bones in their meals.
The overall taste profile is pretty much hit and miss, and there’s several factors that come into play there.
One is the quality of the mackerel itself, the second is the way in which it was prepared and cooked and lastly it simply isn’t for everyone.
If you want to try mackerel but want something a little more mild, you could try canned mackerel, but it is worlds apart from fresh mackerel.
How To Prepare Mackerel
It’s important that you know how to properly prepare mackerel. However, it’s also worth pointing out that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying mackerel raw, like a sushi style dish.
If you’re going to do this, then you need to check the fish is fresh by pressing against its flesh. If it bounces back, then you can enjoy it because it is fresh. You should also check its gills for any discoloration.
However, if you’re looking to cook mackerel, then the absolutely best way to do this is by grilling it.
This is because of its high oil content, and grilling allows it to keep its crispiness and make the inner flesh tender and moist/hydrated.
You need to remember to season the mackerel during the cooking process though and the best way to do this is by using lemon or lime juice and salt.
As mackerel has a delicate flavor, this method allows it to keep all of its juices and you retain all of the nutritional benefits.
Another good method to cook mackerel is steaming it within foil. Essentially, you wrap the mackerel in foil after pre-seasoning it and place it within a barbecue grill.
Next, you close the lid and allow it to cook until it’s fully done.
You can check if it is cooked by opening the lid and pressing a fork onto the outside of its body.
If the flesh falls off, then the mackerel is ready to eat. All you need to do then is add your favorite sauces and side dishes, and you’re good to go.
There’s also nothing particularly wrong with boiling or frying mackerel, but these two methods are by far the best ones for keeping the mackerel’s taste and texture intact without adding or detracting from it.
Is Mackerel Good For You?
Yes, assuming you have not added anything extra to the mackerel, then it will depend on what nutritional factors those foods have.
However, alone and cooked correctly – mackerel has plenty of excellent nutritional benefits.
It’s a massive source of Omega-3 acids which is a huge factor in the improvement of your heart health and eyesight.
It is also rich in an antioxidant known as Selenium which is important for your immune system in fighting off illnesses.
As with many other fish, mackerel is a big source of protein – which is critical for muscle repair, appetite suppression and building lean muscle.
Finally, mackerel is much lower in mercury than some other fish, which makes it an ideal fish selection for many meals throughout the week.
Will I Enjoy Mackerel?
If you’re a fish lover, then you’ll absolutely love mackerel. However, if you’re someone that “plays it safe” with fish, then consider other fish that you like first.
If you’re a fan of salmon and tuna, then the likelihood is that you’ll enjoy mackerel. However, there’s only one sure way to find out, and that’s by trying it!
As we mentioned earlier, you could dip your toes in by trying canned mackerel, but it really isn’t the same as fresh mackerel.
Final Thoughts
Mackerel has an excellent taste and is one of the healthiest fishes to choose from for a meal. If you’re yet to enjoy a mackerel, we recommend it for a meal tonight!
Are you considering eating a mackerel dish but you’re unsure if you will enjoy the taste? Read our guide to discover everything you have been wondering about!
Ingredients
Mackerel
Ingredients from your favorite recipes
Directions
It’s important that you know how to properly prepare mackerel. However, it’s also worth pointing out that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying mackerel raw, like a sushi style dish.
If you’re going to do this, then you need to check the fish is fresh by pressing against its flesh. If it bounces back, then you can enjoy it because it is fresh. You should also check its gills for any discoloration.
However, if you’re looking to cook mackerel, then the absolutely best way to do this is by grilling it.
This is because of its high oil content, and grilling allows it to keep its crispiness and make the inner flesh tender and moist/hydrated.
You need to remember to season the mackerel during the cooking process though and the best way to do this is by using lemon or lime juice and salt.
As mackerel has a delicate flavor, this method allows it to keep all of its juices and you retain all of the nutritional benefits.
Another good method to cook mackerel is steaming it within foil. Essentially, you wrap the mackerel in foil after pre-seasoning it and place it within a barbecue grill.
Next, you close the lid and allow it to cook until it’s fully done.
You can check if it is cooked by opening the lid and pressing a fork onto the outside of its body.
If the flesh falls off, then the mackerel is ready to eat. All you need to do then is add your favorite sauces and side dishes, and you’re good to go.
There’s also nothing particularly wrong with boiling or frying mackerel, but these two methods are by far the best ones for keeping the mackerel’s taste and texture intact without adding or detracting from it.
Hi, I’m Aubrey, and I have been a chef for close to 8 years. Cooking has always been a passion of mine, as long as I can remember. I loved my play kitchen when I was a kid, and would offer my parents my own (albeit gross) cookie recipes to taste!
Here at ButterandSaltGatherings, I want to offer a wide range of ingredients, flavors, meals and recipes so that you can start living each day to the fullest, and enjoy only the best food.
