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Simple Mackerel Burger Recipe from Spain

If you want to have a healthy, fresh, and flavorful alternative to a fast-food classic, then you can accomplish that with some fantastic Spanish recipes.

The Spanish mackerel recipes are usually pretty healthy, but the mackerel burger recipe absolutely nails being a comfort food that’s also delicious and easy to make.

Read this article and learn everything about the best mackerel recipe: from how to prepare it step by step to some helpful tips for storing, serving, and ingredient substitutions that you can make.

a pin with a fish Burger made with the mackerel burger recipe

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Background of the Dish

mackerel burger recipe used to make a burger with tomatoes and salad

The recipe for fish burgers was created in the 20th century as a healthier alternative to the classic ones (because they contain healthy fat along with more nutrients than the beef ones).

The mackerel burger recipe is kind of similar to the mackerel cake recipe and the mackerel patty recipe, but the main difference is the fact that you use canned mackerel and it is served between bread buns.

Some versions include cooking Spanish mackerel, so that is completely up to the chef, but using canned mackerel is a great option for a quick and mesmerizing meal.

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a pin with a fish burger on a plate made with the mackerel burger recipe
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Things You’ll Need for Mackerel Burger Recipe

To prepare this mackerel burger recipe you need canned mackerel, breadcrumbs, flour, onion, celery sticks, minced garlic, and burger buns as the main ingredients.

If you want it to be a fresh mackerel fish recipe you can follow the cooking process of the grilled mackerel recipe or Spanish baked mackerel recipe.

closeup of Mackerel patty on salad for the mackerel burger recipe

Ingredients

For the mackerel patty:

  • 2 cans (about 14 ounces each) of mackerel
  • 1/2 cup (60gr) breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup (30gr) all-purpose flour (for coating)
  • 1 red onion
  • 4 celery sticks
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Vegetable oil for frying

For Assembling the Burgers:

  • 5 burger buns
  • Toppings of your choice (lettuce, tomatoes, pickles)
  • Condiments of your choice (ketchup, mustard, etc.) 

How to Make Mackerel Burger Recipe – Step by Step Guide

Mackerel patty being fried in a blue pan for the mackerel burger recipes
  1. For the first step in this mackerel burger recipe, drain and flake the canned mackerel and set aside. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces. Chop the celery and parsley into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic cloves.
  1. Now grab a large bowl and combine the flaked mackerel, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, celery, minced garlic, fresh parsley, egg, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
  1. Then mix everything until well combined. If the mixture is too wet, you can add more breadcrumbs, and if it’s too dry, you can add a bit more lemon juice or a touch of water. Form 5 equal-sized patties with the mix.
  1. For the next step in this fish burger patty recipe, place the all-purpose flour on a plate. Coat each mackerel burger with flour, shaking off any excess.
  1. Now heat a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Carefully add the burger to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Place the cooked patties on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
  1. The most important part of the fish burger recipe is the assembly. So to assemble each burger, you have to start by spreading your favorite condiments in the burger buns.
  1. After that, place a mackerel patty on top of one of the buns. Add lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onion, and pickles (or your favorite toppings). 
  1. To finish this mackerel burger recipe, top with the other half of the burger bun. Serve your Spanish burgers warm.

Substitution of Ingredients

closeup of a mackerel burger recipe between 2 slices of bread.

There are a few changes that you can make to the ingredients for this mackerel burger recipe.

For example, you can prepare this fish mackerel recipe with gluten-free breadcrumbs, flour, and buns if necessary.

When it comes to the vegetables that are blended with the mackerel meat you can use any of your choice for this Spanish mackerel recipe or remove some like the celery sticks.

We recommend using onion (white, red, etc.) as it is a key ingredient in fish burger recipes to reach the proper moisture.

You can now make a keto mackerel recipe and prepare your burger with it by using a low-carb bread bum.

Besides that, you can prepare this recipe with fresh king mackerel steaks or Spanish mackerel fillet, but you have to grill, bake, or use the fried mackerel recipe.

Tips on Serving Mackerel Burger Recipe

a burger and fries on a plate made with the Mackerel Burger Recipe

As soon as you finish preparing the mackerel burgers recipe you will have a main dish ready to be served for lunch or dinner.

Since it is a pan-fried mackerel recipe, you can enjoy it all year round as there is no need to turn the grill on.

Besides that, you can play with the toppings of this mackerel burger recipe: lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, onion slices, etc.

If you are a fan of smoked mackerel recipes, we encourage you to use smoked BBQ sauce as one of your condiments for this burger (or white BBQ sauce).

Other sauces that can take your easy mackerel patties recipe to the next level are aioli, hot peppered mayo, avocado sauce, apple cider sauce, etc.

For a full Andalusian tapas table, you can prepare this as sliders with other Spanish dishes like the chorizo burger recipe or the Spanish mackerel cutlets.

How to Store Mackerel Burger Recipe

How to Store Mackerel Burger Recipe. Ingredients and plastic containers in a fridge.

If you are planning on storing the burgers from your mackerel burger recipe, you have to do it after you cook the patties (you can’t store the full burger with buns, veggies, and condiments).

So once you finish making the best fish burger recipe, let the patties come to room temperature and place them in a covered container (with a lid or plastic wrap).

Then, store them for up to 3 days in the fridge or for 30 days in the freezer.

To reheat the burgers from your mackerel burger recipe we recommend that you do it in the oven or frying pan (so they gain back the crispy outside) and then do the assembly steps.

Other recipes for Spanish mackerel that you can prepare and freeze are the smoked mackerel recipe, the mackerel grilled recipe, and the mackerel cake recipe.

Recipe Card: Mackerel Burger Recipe

Yield: 5

Quick Mackerel Burger Recipe

a burger and fries on a plate made with the Mackerel Burger Recipe

If you want to have a healthy, fresh, and flavorful alternative to a fast-food classic, then you can accomplish that with some fantastic Spanish recipes.

The Spanish mackerel recipes are usually pretty healthy, but the mackerel burger recipe absolutely nails being a comfort food that's also delicious and easy to make.

Read this article and learn everything about the best mackerel recipe: from how to prepare it step by step to some helpful tips for storing, serving, and ingredient substitutions that you can make.

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (about 14 ounces each) of mackerel
  • 1/2 cup (60gr) breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup (30gr) all-purpose flour (for coating)
  • 1 red onion
  • 4 celery sticks
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Vegetable oil for frying

For Assembling the Burgers:

  • 5 burger buns
  • Toppings of your choice (lettuce, tomatoes, pickles)
  • Condiments of your choice (ketchup, mustard, etc.)

Instructions

  1. To start with this mackerel burger recipe, drain and flake the canned mackerel and set aside. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces. Chop the celery and parsley into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic cloves.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flaked mackerel, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, celery, minced garlic, fresh parsley, egg, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
  3. Mix everything until well combined. If the mixture is too wet, you can add more breadcrumbs, and if it's too dry, you can add a bit more lemon juice or a touch of water. Form 5 equal-sized patties with the mix.
  4. Place the all-purpose flour on a plate. Coat each mackerel patty with flour, shaking off any excess.
  5. Heat a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Carefully add the mackerel burger to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Place the cooked patties on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
  6. To assemble each burger, spread your favorite condiments in the burger buns.
  7. Place a Spanish mackerel fish patty on top of one of the buns. Add lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onion, and pickles (or your favorite toppings). 
  8. Top with the other half of the burger bun. Serve your Spanish mackerel burgers warm.

Notes

If you don't like canned fish, you can prepare this recipe with Spanish mackerel filet or Spanish mackerel steak.

In that case, you can follow the cooking methods of the Spanish Baked Mackerel or the grilled Spanish mackerel, before mixing the meat with the other ingredients.

Remember that you can use your favorite toppings for this fish burger patties recipe, but the ones listed are the ones that go better with mackerel.

Nutrition Information

Yield

5

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 597Total Fat 34.8gSaturated Fat 11.8gCholesterol 122mgSodium 566mgCarbohydrates 37.9gFiber 2.5gSugar 4.3gProtein 33.7g

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