Skip to Content

Delicious Steamed Mackerel Recipe

We love Spanish recipes that were developed as a mix of different cuisines from all around the world, turning into an explosion of flavors.

Among the Spanish mackerel recipes, the mackerel sushi recipe isn’t the only one that fits in this category, so today we shine the spotlight on the steamed mackerel recipe.

In this article, you will learn how to cook Spanish mackerel step by step, with some helpful tips for storing, serving, and ingredient replacements that you can make.

a pin with steamed mackerel recipe with salad.

You, dear reader, support this blog. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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

Background of the Dish

closeup of steamed mackerel recipe on a plate.

In Asia they firmly believed that steaming was the best way to cook mackerel, so once the trading between that region and Southern Spain increased, new recipes for steamed seafood were born.

The steamed mackerel recipe has a lot of ingredients that belong to Asian cuisines, such as soy and oyster sauce, and they blend perfectly with the Spanish ones like mackerel and garlic.

This steamed mackerel recipe first became popular in restaurants, but it reached new levels of fame and now everyone can make it at home.

Pin for later!

a pin with a steamed mackerel recipe served with vegetables.

Things You’ll Need for Steamed Mackerel Recipe

To make this fish mackerel recipe you need mackerel filets or steaks, soy sauce, ginger, garlic cloves, and brown sugar as the main ingredients.

You will also need a steamer for the cooking process of this mackerel recipe, or replace the cooking method with baking or grilling.

fresh mackerel fillets for the steamed mackerel recipe

Ingredients

  • 5 mackerel filets or steaks
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 ginger
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

How to Make Steamed Mackerel Recipe – Step by Step Guide

marinade for the steamed mackerel recipe
  1. For the first step in this steamed mackerel recipe, you have to peel and mince the garlic cloves. Grate the ginger until you get about 1/2 tablespoon.
  1. Now, rinse each Spanish mackerel filet or steak under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Score the skin of the filets with a sharp knife to help the flavors penetrate.
  1. After that, grab a bowl and mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and brown sugar.
  1. Then, place the Spanish mackerel fish in a shallow dish or a Ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over the filets, making sure they are well-coated. Allow the mackerel to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
  1. In the meantime, fill the bottom of your steamer with water and bring it to a boil. Place the marinated mackerel filets in the steamer basket.
  1. Next, steam the mackerel for about 12 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. The flesh should be opaque and easily flaked with a fork.
  1. Now grab a small bowl and mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry. In a small saucepan, heat the remaining marinade over medium heat.
  1. Once it starts simmering, add the cornstarch slurry and stir until the sauce thickens. This will be the sauce component for this Spanish mackerel recipe.
  1. Finally, place the steamed mackerel filets on a serving platter. Pour the thickened sauce over the mackerel. Optionally you can garnish the dish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.

Substitution of Ingredients

steamed mackerel recipe with carrots and onion on a plate

There are a lot of changes that you can make to the ingredients from this steamed mackerel fish recipe, switching and adapting the flavor profile to your liking.

If you don’t have a steamer, then you can prepare this mackerel oven-baked, although the texture will be different.

If you want it to have a similar flavor to the spicy mackerel recipe you can use olive oil as the main base for the marinade (instead of soy sauce), and add paprika, chili flakes, or crushed jalapeño peppers.

Besides that, you can prepare this steamed mackerel recipe with mackerel filets or steaks: we don’t recommend using whole mackerel as it probably won’t fit in a steamer.

Give a go to other similar recipes like the pickled mackerel recipe, the easy cured mackerel recipe, or the easy-to-make mackerel sushi recipe

Tips on Serving Steamed Mackerel Recipe

steamed mackerel recipe served with tomatoes and lemon

Once you finish making this steamed mackerel recipe you will have a fantastic seafood dish that can be served for lunch or dinner, as an appetizer, or as a main dish.

If you want to serve it as a main dish, we recommend adding side dishes like a mixed green salad, roasted or steamed vegetables, or a fantastic tortilla de patatas.

If you want to serve the best mackerel recipe as tapas then chop the fish into bite-sized cubes and place it on top of your favorite bread.

Some Spanish mackerel dishes that you can serve as appetizers or main dishes are the mackerel cake recipe and the mackerel burger recipe.

If you have small kids, we also have a great recipe that you can prepare for them and that is the baby Spanish mackerel recipe.

How to Store Steamed Mackerel Recipe

How to Store Steamed Mackerel Recipe. An open fridge with various vegetables and fruits in plastic containers.

Once you finish making the steamed mackerel recipe you have to let it come to room temperature if you are planning on storing it.

Then, place the fish in a covered container (with a lid or plastic wrap) and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days or the freezer for 45 days.

To thaw, place the steamed mackerel in the fridge overnight or for 12 hours, then reheat it in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Other Spanish mackerel recipes that you can make and store are the Spanish baked mackerel recipe and the mackerel patty recipe.

Recipe Card: Steamed Mackerel Recipe

Yield: 5

Easy Steamed Mackerel Recipe

steamed mackerel recipe served with salad in a plate.

We love Spanish recipes that were developed as a mix of different cuisines from all around the world, turning into an explosion of flavors.

Among the Spanish mackerel recipes, the mackerel sushi recipe isn't the only one that fits in this category, so today we shine the spotlight on the steamed mackerel recipe.

In this article, you will learn how to cook Spanish mackerel step by step, with some helpful tips for storing, serving, and ingredient replacements that you can make.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 5 mackerel filets or steaks
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 ginger
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Grate the ginger until you get about 1/2 tablespoon.
  2. Rinse the mackerel filets or steaks under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Score the skin of the filets with a sharp knife to help the flavors penetrate.
  3. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and brown sugar.
  4. Place the Spanish mackerel filets in a shallow dish or a Ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over the filets, making sure they are well-coated. Allow the mackerel to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
  5. Fill the bottom of your steamer with water and bring it to a boil. Place the marinated mackerel filets in the steamer basket.
  6. Steam the mackerel for about 12 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. The flesh should be opaque and easily flaked with a fork.
  7. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry. In a small saucepan, heat the remaining marinade over medium heat.
  8. Once it starts simmering, add the cornstarch slurry and stir until the sauce thickens.
  9. Place the steamed mackerel filets on a serving platter. Pour the thickened sauce over the mackerel. Your steamed mackerel recipe is now ready, optionally you can garnish the dish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

Instead of filets you can use steaks and turn them into a king mackerel recipe, it will make it more filling but you have to cook them for longer.

This mackerel fish recipe is the perfect blend of Asian and Andalusian cuisine, but you can make it fully Spanish by removing the sauces and using olive oil for the marinade.

If you use olive oil you can make the best mackerel recipe with other spices such as chili flakes, paprika, or turmeric.

Nutrition Information

Yield

5

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 269Total Fat 18.4gSaturated Fat 4.1gCholesterol 66mgSodium 276mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 0.1gSugar 1.8gProtein 21.3g

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @visit.southernspain on Instagram and hashtag it #visitsouthernspain



Skip to Recipe