Easy Pickled Mackerel Recipe from Spain

If you love visiting Southern Spain but can’t travel right now, the best way to experience it is through Spanish recipes.

In particular, Spanish mackerel recipes always hit the spot because they combine all of the most beloved Andalusian flavors, bringing Southern Spain to your table.

In this article, we will focus on the pickled mackerel recipe also known as caballa en escabeche, so keep scrolling down this article to learn how to pickle mackerel, serve it, and store it.

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

• Spanish ceviche recipe

• Mackerel Steaks Recipe

• Salted mackerel recipe

Background of the Dish

After the smoked mackerel recipe gained popularity in Southern Spain during the 18th century, people began discovering more ways to prepare mackerel filets.

The best pickled fish recipes were born as a result, partly because they allowed for the preservation of the fish for a longer period (thanks to the use of oil and vinegar, it could last up to 15 days if properly stored).

The reason for its current popularity extends beyond its flavor: it is similar to the pan-fried mackerel recipe, making it simple to prepare, with the added step of making the pickle.

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Things You’ll Need for Pickled Mackerel Recipe

To prepare this easy recipe for pickled fish you will need mackerel filets, onion, garlic cloves, carrots, white vinegar, and olive oil.

You should also have a glass jar or an airtight container to place the fish once you finish making the pickled mackerel recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 mackerel filets
• 1/2 cup (60gr) flour
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 cup (240ml) extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup (90ml) white wine vinegar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

How to Make Pickled Mackerel Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. The first step in this pickled mackerel recipe is to prepare the vegetables. For that, peel the carrot and cut it into thin slices. Also, peel and chop the onion into small squares. Lastly, peel and mince the garlic.

2. After that, clean each Spanish mackerel steak or filet and pat them dry with absorbent paper.

3. Now pass the filets through the flour (leaving them with a light flour coating) and cook them for a few minutes in a pan with olive oil, approximately 5 minutes on each side. Remove and put them on absorbent paper to prevent them from becoming oily. Set aside.

4. Then grab a pan with clean oil and sauté the onion and garlic cloves until golden. Once they are golden add the carrot, and confit for about 10 minutes over medium-soft heat.

5. For the next step in this simple pickled fish recipe, add the vinegar, oil, bay leaf, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook everything over low heat for 15 minutes.

6. Now place the Spanish mackerel fish in an airtight container and pour the pickle mixture over them, making sure they are well covered.

7. For the final step on this pickled mackerel recipe, let it cool to room temperature and then place it in the fridge. If possible, let it rest for 12 hours or until the next day so that the flavors blend better.

Substitution of Ingredients

As long as you have the main ingredients, there are some changes that you can make to the other components of this pickled mackerel recipe.

For example, you can turn it into a whole mackerel recipe instead of using filets, but make sure to clean the fish properly.

Besides that, this is the best pickled fish recipe because you can make it with any type of fish: cod, hake, tuna, etc.

This is an Andalusian marinated mackerel recipe, but you can add an Asian touch to it and replace the vinegar with rice vinegar, or use regular vegetable oil instead of olive oil.

A way to enhance the flavors of this soused mackerel recipe is to add more herbs or spices, such as dill, rosemary, chili flakes, saffron, cilantro, etc.

Lastly, you can check other cooking methods instead of pan-frying the fish, like making Spanish baked mackerel recipe or a grilled mackerel recipe and then adding the ingredients for the pickle.

Tips on Serving Pickled Mackerel Recipe

Once you finish making this pickled mackerel recipe you will have the perfect fish to serve as tapas, as the filling of a sandwich, or as the topping for another food.

For example, you can prepare this traditional pickled fish recipe and use it as an ingredient for a mixed green salad, put it on top of cold rice, or with scrambled eggs.

This is the best mackerel recipe because you can also enjoy it on its own, especially if you serve it as a sandwich: you just need your favorite type of bread, spread mayonnaise or cream cheese on it, and fill it up with the pickled mackerel.

For a super simple tapa, just make this pickled fish recipe, cut some slices of bread, and place the mackerel on top, letting the juices soak into the bread.

You can serve this pickled mackerel on a tapas table with other mackerel filet recipes, such as the Spanish mackerel sushi or the mackerel pate recipe.

Try our Spanish mackerel sashimi, a simple dish that’s made with raw and frozen mackerel and served with a Spanish marinade.

A similar recipe you can try is the cured mackerel recipe, that can also be served as tapas at any time of the day.

How to Store Pickled Mackerel Recipe

Once you finish preparing the pickled mackerel recipe you have to let it come to room temperature and then you can store it covered in the fridge where it can last up to 2 weeks.

To store it, you have to make sure that the pickled mackerel is fully covered by the pickling liquid or marinade (and the container with a lid or plastic wrap) since this helps to preserve its flavor and texture.

Before enjoying your pickled fish be sure to check for any signs of spoilage, such as an off-putting smell or changes in texture.

One disadvantage of the pickled fish recipes in general is that you can’t store them in the freezer, as they get a weird texture and it affects the flavor of the fish and the pickle mixture.

Other recipes for Spanish mackerel that you can make if you want to freeze them are the mackerel patty recipe and the roasted mackerel recipe.

Recipe Card: Pickled Mackerel Recipe

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