Best Mackerel Steaks Recipe from Spain

Andalusia is the home of a wide variety of Spanish recipes, and there is always a new one right around the corner waiting to be discovered.

The mackerel steaks recipe is one of them, it combines the best flavors of the region and it is super simple to make.

Keep reading this article to learn everything there is to know about Spanish mackerel recipes: from how to cook king mackerel to expert tips on how to store and serve this fantastic dish.

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

• Mackerel patty recipe

• Mackerel pate recipe

• Spanish baked mackerel recipe

Background of the Dish

The mackerel steak recipe is one of the oldest seafood recipes from Southern Spain, and nowadays you can find it in every Andalusian restaurant or bar.

Other recipes for mackerel steaks have influences from other regions, such as North American or Latin American cuisine (especially when they add hot sauce or BBQ sauce to the marinade).

What makes this the best mackerel recipe is that the marinate only calls for classic Spanish herbs and spices, and the fish is super easy to prepare, so anyone can make it.

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Things You’ll Need for Mackerel Steaks Recipe

For this mackerel filet recipe, you will need king mackerel steaks, olive oil, garlic cloves, and other herbs and spices.

Cooking king mackerel is super simple, and since this is a grilled king mackerel recipe you will need a grill (or switch the cooking method for baked or pan fried).

Ingredients

• 4 King Mackerel steaks (about 1 inch thick)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Lemon wedges for garnish (optional)
• Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

How to Make Mackerel Steaks Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. The first step in this mackerel steaks recipe is to rinse the mackerel under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Make sure to ask your fishmonger to prepare the steaks without spines and scales.

2. Now using a small bowl, combine the olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, dried oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to create a marinade for the Spanish mackerel fish.

3. Then, place the mackerel steaks in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Make sure the steaks are evenly coated. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

4. In the meantime, preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 350-400°F or 175-200°C). Make sure to oil the grill grates to prevent the king mackerel steaks from sticking.

5. Now, remove the marinated steaks from the fridge and let them come to room temperature for a few minutes. Place the Spanish mackerel fillet on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes per side. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the steaks.

6. To finish this mackerel steaks recipe, remove the grilled Spanish mackerel from the grill and transfer them to a serving platter. Garnish them with lemon wedges and fresh parsley if desired.

Substitution of Ingredients

The best part about this mackerel steak recipe is the amount of replacements that you can make to its ingredients.

First, you can prepare the marinade for this Spanish mackerel filet recipe with your favorite herbs and spices, such as cumin, chili flakes, rosemary, and cilantro.

You can do a more North American version and turn them into BBQ mackerel steaks by adding 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce to the marinade.

Even though this is a king mackerel recipe, you can use other types of fish such as cod, hake, or salmon.

Grilling is the best way to cook mackerel, but if you don’t have a grill just bake them in foil or cook them in a frying pan.

Other Spanish mackerel recipes that you must try are the peppered mackerel recipe or the roasted mackerel recipe, which are both easy and tasty.

And for a complete dish, you can try the mackerel rice recipe, which perfectly balances the Spanish rice with the flavourful mackerel.

Tips on Serving Mackerel Steaks Recipe

Once you finish making this mackerel steaks recipe the fish will be ready to be served as a main dish or as an appetizer.

Pair mackerel steaks with a refreshing ensalada de pepino to balance their rich flavors with crispness and herbaceous notes.

Additionally, a side of buttery Spanish mashed potatoes or quinoa Spanish rice cooked with lemon zest makes for a satisfying accompaniment to complete the meal.

It is commonly served as a main dish because it is a good portion of fish that can go with patatas bravas and some Spanish romesco sauce.

If you want to turn this mackerel steaks recipe into an appetizer or side dish, just cut the fish into small pieces and use it as toppings for a mackerel salad recipe.

There are other fish or cold smoked mackerel recipes that work as tapas, such as the bacalao gazpacho or the ensalada de bacalao.

Try as well the smoked mackerel recipe, the pan-fried mackerel recipe, or the easy mackerel pasta recipe.

How to Store Mackerel Steaks Recipe

We love king mackerel recipes for how easy they are to make, but more importantly, for how long you get to store them.

In this case, once you finish cooking Spanish mackerel, let it come to room temperature and place it in a covered container (with a lid or plastic wrap).

Then, store the Spanish mackerel fish in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 45 days.

To thaw it, just place the mackerel steaks in the fridge overnight or for 12 hours, but reheat it in a grill or frying pan so it gains back the crispiness from the outside.

Other smoked mackerel filet recipes that you can make if you are planning on storing them are the Spanish fried fish, the bacalao croquettes and the Spanish fish stew.

Recipe Card: Mackerel Steaks Recipe

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