Best Mediterranean Mackerel Recipe

There is nothing like enjoying a wonderful holiday on the Mediterranean coast, but when that’s not possible, Spanish recipes come in handy.

Among them, Spanish mackerel recipes, and more specifically the Mediterranean mackerel recipe, blend the finest flavors of the region, taking you on a journey with each bite.

Keep reading this article to find out everything there is to know about the Mediterranean mackerel recipe, with some super helpful tips for storing, serving, and ways of adapting the recipe.

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

• Salted mackerel recipe

• Mackerel Steaks Recipe

• Pan-fried Mackerel Recipe

Background of the Dish

The Mediterranean mackerel recipe is older than the mackerel filet recipes because, for this one, you use whole, cleaned mackerel, which was very popular in the Middle Ages.

The initial versions were more similar to Mediterranean grilled fish recipes, as they were prepared over an open flame.

However, the more modern alternative to the Mediterranean mackerel recipe involves baking the fish.

The dish is filled with Andalusian and Southern European flavors, such as tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, black olives, and mackerel.

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Things You’ll Need for Mediterranean Mackerel Recipe

To prepare this Mediterranean mackerel recipe you need whole mackerel, tomatoes, onion, garlic cloves, black pitted olives, and olive oil as the main ingredients.

You will need a baking tray and foil for cooking Spanish mackerel in the oven.

Ingredients

• 4 whole mackerel (cleaned and gutted)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 5 tomatoes
• 1/2 cup (90gr) pitted black olives
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 lemon
• Fresh parsley (for garnish)

How to Make Mediterranean Mackerel Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step in this Mediterranean fish recipe, you have to preheat your oven to 375°F ( or 190°C).

2. After that, it is time to prepare the vegetables for the Mediterranean mix. Peel and chop the onion. Peel and mince the garlic. Also, wash and dice the tomatoes (discarding the seeds). Cut the olives in half. Set aside,

3. Then, rinse the mackerel under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Make sure they are clean inside and out, and free of any scales.

4. Now using a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Also, add the chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes until it becomes translucent.

5. For the next step in this Spanish mackerel recipe, stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.

6. Then, add the diced tomatoes, black olives, capers, dried oregano, and dried basil to the skillet. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Remove from heat.

7. Next, place the cleaned mackerel in a baking dish that’s large enough to hold all of them without crowding. Put some olive oil in the bottom of the baking dish so that the Spanish mackerel fish doesn’t stick.

8. Now pour the Mediterranean tomato mixture evenly over the Spanish mackerel, covering them well. Cut the lemon into thin slices.

9. To continue with this baked Mediterranean fish recipe, lay the lemon slices on top of the mackerel and the tomato mixture.

10. After that, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven.

11. Bake the Mediterranean mackerel for approximately 25 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.

12. Once the fish is cooked, remove the foil and broil for an additional 3 minutes until the top is lightly browned and the fish has a slightly crispy texture.

13. For the final step in this Mediterranean mackerel recipe, remove the baking dish from the oven, garnish the fish with fresh parsley, and serve hot. 

Substitution of Ingredients

We love everything about this Mediterranean mackerel recipe, especially how easy the ingredient substitutions are.

First, if you don’t like mackerel you can turn it into a Mediterranean white fish recipe and use fish like cod or hake to prepare this recipe.

This is the best mackerel recipe because you can play as much as you want with the vegetables: add cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers, remove the onion, just do what you please.

As well as most of the Mediterranean diet fish recipes, you can prepare this one with king mackerel steaks or Spanish mackerel fillet for a faster cooking process.

You can turn it into a smoked mackerel recipe by changing the cooking method or give this fish a smokey flavor by adding liquid smoke (one tablespoon or less) to the vegetable mix.

Try the whole mackerel recipe as well because it’s an easy, baked dish that can be served with everything you want and the crispy Spanish mackerel cutlets.

Tips on Serving Mediterranean Mackerel Recipe

Once you finish making this roasted mackerel recipe you will have a main dish ready to be served.

One of the highlights of this Mediterranean mackerel recipe is that you also cook the vegetables with the fish, so you just have to take the baking dish out of the oven and plate it.

For some alternatives, you can pair this easy Mediterranean fish recipe with a mixed green salad, or a fully Andalusian tortilla de patatas.

You can do like other Mediterranean baked fish recipes and chop the mackerel into bite-sized pieces and serve it as a tapas, which is a great option too.

Other recipes for Spanish mackerel that are commonly served as tapas are the mackerel fillet recipe, the mackerel patty recipe and the smoked mackerel pate recipe.

How to Store Mediterranean Mackerel Recipe

As soon as you finish making this Mediterranean mackerel recipe you should let it come to room temperature if you are planning on storing it.

Then, place the Spanish baked mackerel recipe in a covered container -with a lid or with plastic wrap on the top and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 30 days.

With baked Mediterranean fish recipes the reheating is super simple: place the mackerel on a baking tray (with all of the vegetables) and heat it in the oven at medium heat for 20 minutes or in the microwave.

As happens with other Mediterranean fish recipes, you should check the smell and taste of the ingredients (especially the tomatoes and mackerel) before reheating and serving.

Recipe Card: Mediterranean Mackerel Recipe

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