Best Mackerel Curry Recipe

We love the traditional Spanish recipes, but we are the biggest fans of those that blend different cuisines from all around the world.

Different Spanish mackerel recipes can fit into this category, but the mackerel curry recipe is the one that stands out the most.

This dish is filled with different flavors and spices that come together turning it into a masterpiece, and if you keep reading this article you can learn how to cook Spanish mackerel curry with more tips and tricks.

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

• Mackerel oven recipe

• Spanish mackerel rice

• Whole mackerel recipe

Background of the Dish

When it comes to soups and stews, they have always been popular in Andalusia and some of them always take the spotlight like the Spanish fish soup and the the marmitako recipe, a Spanish tuna stew.

Once people got used to this type of recipe, they also got a little bit tired and started trying new combinations to improve the finished results, and that’s how the mackerel curry recipe was born.

With this recipe you will have a dish with a similar consistency to the Spanish seafood stew, but with the flavors and spices of the beloved Indian curry.

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Things You’ll Need for Mackerel Curry Recipe

To make the best mackerel recipe you need mackerel filets, coconut milk, garam masala, turmeric, ginger, and other spices.

Keep in mind that there are a lot of ingredient substitutions that you can make to this mackerel curry recipe, and we will tell you everything about them later.

Ingredients

• 5 mackerel filets
• 2 onions
• 3 tomatoes
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1-inch of ginger
• 2 green chilies
• 1/2 cup (120ml) coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt to taste
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

How to Make Mackerel Curry Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with this mackerel fish recipe, peel and mince the garlic cloves. Peel and finely chop the onion, do the same with the chilies (discarding the seeds). Wash and chop the tomato into squares. Peel and grate the ginger.

2. After that, clean the mackerel filets, pat them dry, and cut them into bite-sized squares. Make sure to remove all of the bones.

3. Now grab a bowl and mix the filets with half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of salt. Let them marinate for about 15 minutes.

4. Then, heat a pan over medium heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Once hot, add the marinated mackerel filets and cook until they are golden on both sides. Remove the mackerel from the pan and set aside.

5. In the same pan, add another tablespoon of oil. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once they splutter, add chopped onions and cook until golden brown.

6. After that, add minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped green chilies. Sauté for 5 minutes. Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, chili powder, and salt. Mix well and cook for a minute.

7. For the next step on this fish mackerel recipe, add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they are soft and the oil starts to separate from the masala. Pour in the coconut milk and bring the mixture to a simmer.

8. Now gently place the cooked mackerel fish into the curry, making sure they are coated with the sauce. Simmer for another 7 minutes. Sprinkle garam masala over the curry and give it a gentle stir.

9. For the final step in this mackerel curry recipe, garnish the curry with fresh cilantro. Serve the mackerel stew curry hot and enjoy.

Substitution of Ingredients

The mackerel curry recipe is pretty basic when it comes to the ingredients that you need to prepare, and you have some room to make changes.

For example, other mackerel stew recipes call for heavy cream instead of coconut milk, and you can make that change (or use a different type of milk) but the coconut one blends better with the spices used here.

Different from other mackerel fish dishes, this simple fish curry has a lot of spices and flavors but you can tone them down by removing some of them or simply use your favorite ones.

If you want it to be more liquid, you could add 2 cups of vegetable broth or follow our mackerel soup recipe and make it with the spices listed in this article.

Lastly, you can prepare this as a king mackerel recipe, just clean the fish before, remove the skin and bones, or ask your fishmonger to do this.

Tips on Serving Mackerel Curry Recipe

For a delightful serving of Mackerel Curry, be sure to use fresh mackerel to enhance the rich flavors.

To balance the spices, consider serving the curry with steamed rice providing the perfect complement to the bold and aromatic notes of this delectable dish.

With this mackerel curry recipe, you will have a main dish perfect to be served at lunch or dinner, especially during the cold days of winter or fall.

We also recommend that you pair the stew from this mackerel recipe with a slice of your favorite bread, or bread toasts, so you get to soak it in the sauce and nothing goes to waste.

To improve the garnishing of this mackerel curry recipe, you can drizzle a tablespoon of heavy cream or neutral Greek yogurt on top of each small bowl to make it a restaurant-worthy dish.

How to Store Mackerel Curry Recipe

We encourage you to serve the fish from this mackerel curry recipe as fresh as you can so that you get to enjoy the flavors when they are at their peak.

However, there are some ways of storing the mackerel curry and helping it preserve its original flavor and texture.

Once you finish making the mackerel curry recipe, let the fish cool to room temperature and place it in a covered container (with a lid or plastic wrap), then take it to the fridge where it can last up to 2 days.

To store it for longer you can freeze the mackerel curry in portions, where they can last up to 45 days, but make sure to label them so that date doesn’t go by.

Recipe Card: Mackerel Curry Recipe

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