Ultimate Spicy Mackerel Recipe from Spain

For all lovers of spicy food, we have good news: there are also Spanish recipes that will make you feel the heat with just one bite.

In the world of Spanish mackerel recipes, there’s one that stands out: the spicy mackerel recipe. It has a perfect balance of spiciness that hits your taste buds without overwhelming them.

Read this article and learn everything you need to know about this Spanish mackerel recipe: from how to make it to how to store and serve it.

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

• Mackerel patty recipe

• Smoked mackerel recipe

• Mackerel steaks recipe

Background of the Dish

Spanish mackerel recipes in general are pretty popular in Andalusia because it is an abundant fish and it is also really cheap in comparison to other types of seafood.

The spicy mackerel recipe was developed around the 1980s when the hot sauce and Mexican dishes saw a new level of fame in the Southern Spain region.

It was created for those people who wanted the Mexican level of spiciness, with other typical Andalusian flavors like seafood, garlic, and tomatoes.

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Things You’ll Need for Spicy Mackerel Recipe

To make the best mackerel recipe you need canned tomatoes, bell peppers, hot sauce, onion, garlic cloves, and mackerel filets.

The only equipment that you need for this spicy mackerel recipe is a frying pan or skillet for cooking.

Ingredients

• 5 mackerel filets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons hot sauce
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup (120ml) white wine (optional, replaceable with water)
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

How to Make Spicy Mackerel Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step in this spicy mackerel recipe, you have to clean the filets. Remove any bones and scales, and then rinse them under cold water. Pat them dry with paper towels and set them aside.

2. After that, it’s time to prepare the vegetables. Peel and chop the onion. Peel and mince the garlic. Dice the bell pepper and the canned tomatoes.

3. Now grab a large skillet or frying pan and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes until it becomes translucent.

4. For the next step on this fish mackerel recipe, add the minced garlic and diced red bell pepper to the pan. Cook for an additional 3 minutes until the peppers are tender.

5. Then, stir in the crushed tomatoes, paprika, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. If you prefer a milder sauce, you can reduce the amount of red pepper flakes and hot sauce. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.

6. If you’re using white wine, pour it into the sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes to cook off the alcohol and reduce the liquid slightly. If not, you can replace it with the same amount of water.

7. After that, carefully place the mackerel filets into the simmering spicy tomato sauce. Spoon some of the sauce over the Spanish mackerel.

8. Now, cover the skillet and cook the fish in the sauce for about 7 minutes or until it is cooked through. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the filets (or if using king mackerel steaks). Mackerel is done when it flakes easily with a fork.

9. Once the Spanish mackerel is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat.

10. Serve the Spanish mackerel filet in hot tomato sauce warm. As an optional step, garnish it with freshly chopped parsley.

Substitution of Ingredients

We love this spicy mackerel recipe as it is, but you can make some ingredient substitutions according to your preference or what you have on hand.

For example, you can use fresh tomatoes, store bought tomato sauce, or play with the vegetables listed as much as you want.

The whole point of spicy mackerel recipes is for them to be spicy, but you can regulate that flavor profile by adding 1/2 cup of heavy cream so that your sauce has a milder taste.

Now if you like tomato sauce but don’t want it to be spicy at all, then we encourage you to try our Mediterranean mackerel recipe.

Instead of using filets for this mackerel fish recipe, you can turn it into a whole mackerel recipe, just adjust the cooking time.

The king mackerel recipe is also an easy recipe to make, especially if you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.

Tips on Serving Spicy Mackerel Recipe

With this spicy mackerel recipe, you have the perfect main dish ready to be served as it is, or you can add some side dishes.

To stay on the side of a healthy mackerel recipe you can serve it with a mixed green salad, or a mix of your favorite roasted vegetables.

For a fully Andalusian meal you can serve it with tortilla de patatas or patatas a lo pobre. 

To make it more filling you can also turn it into a mackerel rice recipe and serve it with cooked white rice.

If you are looking for tapas or appetizers, then you can check other recipes for Spanish mackerel like the Spanish mackerel cutlets and the mackerel croquettes.

Lastly, you can do like the spicy baked mackerel filet recipes and place the cooked mackerel in a baking tray, top it with pieces of mozzarella or parmesan cheese, and melt it in the oven for a cheesy and spicy dish.

Try our delicious mackerel oven recipe that’s super easy to make and it’s done in no time.

How to Store Spicy Mackerel Recipe

There are some tricks to store the fish from the spicy mackerel recipe, and here we’ll tell you all of them.

Once you finish cooking Spanish mackerel, let it cool to room temperature, and then place it in an airtight container, or a plate covered with plastic wrap.

After that, you can store your spicy mackerel for up to 3 days in the fridge or 30 days in the freezer (you should add a label with the date to be sure).

Then let it thaw overnight or for 12 hours before serving it, and reheat it in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at medium heat.

Other easy mackerel recipes that you can make and store are the pan-fried mackerel recipe and the Spanish baked mackerel recipe.

Recipe Card: Spicy Mackerel Recipe

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