Easy Baked Mackerel in Foil Recipe

For seafood lovers out there, you have to know by now that your place on earth is Andalusia, but you can also travel to Southern Spain with just one bite of this dish.

We are talking about the baked mackerel in foil, a recipe that’s super simple to make, and you will have one fo the best Spanish mackerel recipes ready to impress all of your guests or to enjoy by yourself.

Keep reading this article and you will learn how to cook mackerel in an oven, how to store Spanish recipes like this, and all the tips and tricks to nail this mackerel oven recipe every time.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish fish recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Spanish fried fish

• Spanish fish soup

• Spanish fish stew

Background of the Dish

This healthy mackerel recipe was created hundreds of years ago, but instead of wrapping the mackerel in foil, it was covered with fresh leaves and herbs.

As time went by, people developed the baked mackerel in foil so it was easier to make at home, and everyone got to enjoy it.

Nowadays there are more creative recipes, like the grilled Spanish mackerel and Spanish mackerel sushi, but the mackerel in the oven still has a special place in every Andalusian heart.

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Things You’ll Need for Baked Mackerel in Foil

To prepare this baked mackerel in foil you will need aluminum foil, whole mackerel, garlic cloves, lemon, and olive oil as the main ingredients.

You can prepare this Spanish baked mackerel recipe without the foil, but make sure to add plenty of oil to the tray so your fish doesn’t stick.

Ingredients

• 6 whole mackerel (removing the guts and scales)
• 2 lemons
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Aluminum foil

How to Make Baked Mackerel in Foil – Step by Step Guide

1. To start making this baked mackerel recipe, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. After that, clean the whole mackerel. This whole mackerel recipe will be easier if you ask your fishmonger to do the cleaning for you.

3. For the next step on this baked mackerel in foil recipe, prepare the other ingredients: chop the fresh parsley, mince the garlic cloves, and thinly slice the lemons.

4. Now grab a small bowl, and combine the minced garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, chopped parsley, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well to create a marinade for your baked whole mackerel in foil.

5. Then, rinse the mackerel under cold running water and pat them dry with paper towels. Make several diagonal cuts on each side of the fish. This helps the marinade penetrate and flavor the fish.

6. After that, tear off six pieces of aluminum foil, each large enough to wrap a mackerel. Place one mackerel on each piece of foil.

7. Next, brush the inside and outside of each mackerel with the prepared marinade. Stuff each mackerel cavity with lemon slices and a few extra slices on top.

8. For the following step, you have to wrap the foil around each mackerel, sealing it tightly but leaving a little room for the steam to circulate inside.

9. Now, place the foil packets on a baking sheet and transfer them to the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the mackerel is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. How long to cook whole mackerel may vary depending on the size of the fish, so check for doneness.

10. For the final step, carefully open the baked mackerel, being cautious of the hot steam. Transfer the mackerel to serving plates, and drizzle any remaining juices from the foil over the top. Garnish with additional fresh parsley and lemon slices if desired.

Substitution of Ingredients

There are a few changes that you can make to the ingredients or cooking process for this baked mackerel in foil.

How long to cook mackerel depends on the thickness of the fish, but is usually from 20 to 30 minutes, though to speed up the process you can make the mackerel oven recipe with filets.

For other mackerel recipes baked in foil add more herbs, like rosemary, thyme, or a crust of sea salt to have something more similar to a salted mackerel recipe, so you can go for that flavor profile too.

If you don’t want to make the baked mackerel filets in foil you can bake them without the foil, but add plenty of oil to the baking tray so they don’t stick.

Instead of making the mackerel oven recipe, you can prepare it as a grilled mackerel recipe or just make other recipes like the roasted mackerel recipe or the pan-fried mackerel recipe.

One recipe that should not be missed is the mackerel pate recipe – an easy and delicious mackerel spread perfect for toast.

Make a mackerel pasta recipe and use the backed mackerel in foil instead of frying it or buying a canned one.

Tips on Serving Baked Mackerel in Foil

Something that we love about oven-baked mackerel filets in foil is that as soon as you finish making the recipe you just have to let them sit for five minutes and they are ready to serve.

You can enjoy the baked mackerel in foil as a main dish for lunch or dinner, with a side of green salad, Spanish potato salad, or french fries.

If you serve half of the amount per serving, then you will have the perfect appetizer or tapas bites of baked mackerel in foil, but in that case, we recommend adding a fresh vegetable like tomato slices or lettuce.

As well as other baked mackerel recipes, you can serve this dish with dipping sauces such as Spanish garlic sauce, cream cheese, or tomato sauce if you find that your fish is too dry.

How to Store Baked Mackerel in Foil

After making this fresh mackerel recipe you have to let it come to room temperature if you are planning on storing it.

Then, place the baked mackerel in foil on a covered container (with a lid or plastic wrap) and store it in the fridge for 3 days or in the freezer for 45 days.

To thaw, place the baked Spanish mackerel in the fridge overnight or for at least 12 hours, then reheat in the oven and serve.

Other mackerel fish recipes that you can make if you want to store them are the Spanish mackerel fillet and the mackerel patty recipe.

Recipe Card: Baked Mackerel in Foil

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