Who says that seafood recipes have to be expensive? There are hundreds of Spanish mackerel recipes that prove that you can enjoy a mesmerizing seafood meal even on a tight budget.
Among those Spanish recipes, the fried mackerel fish recipe is the perfect one for those who are looking for a new seafood comfort food that can be served as a main dish or as an appetizer.
Here you will find everything you need to know about this Spanish mackerel recipe, from how to make it step by step to some extra tips for storing, serving, and more.
You, dear reader, support this blog. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish fish recipes? Have a look at my other posts:
Background of the Dish
A lot of people confuse the fried mackerel fish recipe with the British dish called “Fish and chips” and though they may be similar, there are some key differences.
The British version is made with a white meat fish, meanwhile, the Andalusian one has mackerel filets as the main protagonist.
The fried mackerel fish recipe also has other spices that are commonly used in the Southern Spanish region, such as paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, etc.
Pin for later!
Things You’ll Need for Fried Mackerel Fish Recipe
To prepare this fried pan fish recipe you need flour, eggs, cornmeal, mackerel filets, oil for frying, and a mix of herbs.
To cook this pan fried mackerel filets recipe you will need a large pan or skillet, but that’s pretty much all of the equipment that you need.
Ingredients
- 5 Spanish mackerel filets
- 1 cup (120gr) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (140gr) cornmeal
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges for serving
How to Make Fried Mackerel Fish Recipe – Step by Step Guide
- For the first step in this fried mackerel fish recipe, you have to rinse the mackerel filets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels (make sure that it doesn’t have any bones or skin). Season the filets with salt and pepper.
- Now grab a shallow bowl and combine flour, cornmeal, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- For the next step in this fried mackerel filet recipe, grab another bowl and whisk together eggs and milk to create the wet dredging mixture.
- Then, dip each mackerel filet into the dry dredging mixture, coating it evenly. Also, dip the coated filet into the wet dredging mixture, allowing any excess to drip off.
- After that, dip the filet back into the dry dredging mixture for a second coating. This double dredging will give the fish a crispier crust. In the meantime, start heating your pan with oil for frying over medium heat.
- To continue with this Spanish mackerel fish recipe, carefully place the dredged mackerel filets into the hot oil, a few at a time, depending on the size of your skillet. Be careful and don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Now fry the filets for 5 minutes per side or until they turn golden brown and crispy. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the filets.
- Then, using a slotted spoon, remove the fried mackerel from the oil and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- Your fried mackerel fish recipe is now ready. As an optional step, you can garnish the fried mackerel fish with fresh chopped herbs on top and your favorite dipping sauces.
Substitution of Ingredients
This fried mackerel fish recipe is simple and easy to make, yet there are some substitutions that you can make to customize it and adapt it to your preferences.
For example, you can prepare this fried mackerel recipe with gluten-free flour and cornmeal flour, to make sure that everyone gets to enjoy this delicious dish.
To make it extra-filling, you can prepare this as a king mackerel fish recipe with king mackerel steaks, just make sure to adapt the cooking time as this type of mackerel is thicker than the regular filets.
For this dish, you deep fry the fish, but to go for a healthier alternative you can do like the pan fried mackerel recipe and cook the filets in a small amount of oil, flipping halfway through.
You can make a baby Spanish mackerel and serve this to you kids whenever you want to prepare something healthy and quick.
Lastly, feel free to prepare this fried mackerel fish recipe with your favorite spices or fresh herbs, such as paprika, turmeric, cilantro, rosemary, dill, etc.
Tips on Serving Fried Mackerel Fish Recipe
As soon as you finish preparing this fried mackerel fish recipe you will have a delicious dish ready to be served as a main dish or as a side one.
To serve the fried mackerel as a main dish we recommend that you add some sides, such as a Spanish mixed green salad, a Spanish potato salad, or a tortilla de patatas.
To serve it as an appetizer you could chop the filets in half (so that the portions are smaller) and plate it with dipping sauces such as Spanish garlic sauce, BBQ sauce, sour cream, cheddar cheese, etc.
Like other deep fried mackerel recipes, you have to remove the excess oil with the help of paper towels before serving the dish, so that you don’t end up with a plate filled with grease.
How to Store Fried Mackerel Fish Recipe
When it comes to storing fried mackerel recipes in general, the most important steps are the thawing and reheating ones, but it’s still super simple.
Once you finish making the fried mackerel fish recipe, let it cool to room temperature and place it in a covered container with a lid or plastic wrap, then store it in the fridge for 2 days or freezer for up to 30 days.
Just like you would do with other fried mackerel filet recipes, you have to remove completely the excess oil from the outside of the fish filets or it won’t freeze well and you will end up with soggy fried fish.
Make sure to thaw the fish in the fridge overnight or for at least 12 hours, and in any case you have to reheat it in the oven at medium heat so it regains the crispy outside.
Other mackerel fish recipes that you can prepare and store in the fridge or freezer are the regular fried mackerel recipe and the king mackerel recipe.
La Paella: Deliciously Authentic Rice Dishes from Spain’s Mediterranean CoastCarbon Steel Paella PanPaella Seasoning from SpainSpanish AioliOrganic Extra Virgin Olive OilForum – Spanish Cabranet Sauvignon Red Wine Vinegar – 500 mL
Recipe Card: Fried Mackerel Fish Recipe
Fried Mackerel Fish Recipe
Who says that seafood recipes have to be expensive? There are hundreds of Spanish mackerel recipes that prove that you can enjoy a mesmerizing seafood meal even on a tight budget.
Among those Spanish recipes, the fried mackerel fish recipe is the perfect one for those who are looking for a new seafood comfort food that can be served as a main dish or as an appetizer.
Here you will find everything you need to know about this Spanish mackerel recipe, from how to make it step by step to some extra tips for storing, serving, and more.
Ingredients
- 5 Spanish mackerel filets
- 1 cup (120gr) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (140gr) cornmeal
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- To start with this fried mackerel fish recipe rinse the mackerel filets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Season the filets with salt and pepper.
- In one shallow bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- To continue with this mackerel recipe grab another bowl and whisk together eggs and milk to create the wet dredging mixture.
- Dip each mackerel filet into the dry dredging mixture, coating it evenly. Then, dip the coated filet into the wet dredging mixture, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Finally, dip the filet back into the dry dredging mixture for a second coating. This double dredging will give the fish a crispier crust. In the meantime, start heating your pan with oil for frying over medium heat.
- Carefully place the dredged mackerel filets into the hot oil, a few at a time, depending on the size of your skillet. Don't overcrowd the pan.
- Fry the filets for 5 minutes per side or until they turn golden brown and crispy. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the filets.
- For the next step in this mackerel fish recipe, use a slotted spoon to remove the fried mackerel from the oil and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- Serve the deep-fried Spanish mackerel hot, optionally with fresh chopped herbs on top and your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
Like most mackerel fish recipes, feel free to use the seasonings and spices that you prefer, or even add fresh chopped herbs to the mix.
For a healthier alternative, you can follow other cooking methods, such as the one in the pan fried mackerel recipe or the grilled mackerel recipe.
Now if you want to enjoy a 100% healthy mackerel dish, then instead of the fried mackerel fish recipe you can prepare the keto mackerel recipe, which also adapts better to different types of diets.
Nutrition Information
Yield
5Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 825Total Fat 37.4gSaturated Fat 8.5gCholesterol 256mgSodium 4063mgCarbohydrates 78.1gFiber 14.1gSugar 15.3gProtein 52.4g
Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.
Let’s dive in and explore Southern Spain’s outdoors, food and culture con pasión!