8 Best Grilled Mackerel Recipes

Source: Ievgen Skrypko, AdobeStock

Grilling fish over coals is a wonderful way to prepare a juicy, healthy, and incredibly delicious dish with a beautiful golden crust. Mackerel on the grill turns out especially well because its natural fattiness prevents the meat from drying out during cooking. We're sharing 8 tried-and-tested recipes!

1. Mackerel Baked with Lemon and Onion on the Grill

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A classic recipe that is always hugely popular at picnics.

You will need: 2 mackerel, 1 lemon, 2 onions, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, salt, ground black pepper.

Preparation: Gut the mackerel, make incisions along the sides, and rub the fish with salt and ground pepper. Slice the lemon into rounds and the onion into rings. Place some of the onion and lemon inside the belly, and insert the remaining slices into the cuts on the skin. Brush the mackerel with oil, place it on the grill, and cook for 8-10 minutes on each side.

2. Mackerel Fillet in Soy-Garlic Marinade on the Grill

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A spicy marinade gives the fish an even more beautiful caramel hue and a deep, savory flavor.

You will need: 4 mackerel fillets, 3 cloves garlic, 4 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tsp sugar.

Preparation: Mix soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar, vegetable oil, and garlic pressed through a garlic press. Pour the marinade over the mackerel and let it marinate for 20-30 minutes. Then place the fish fillets on the grill grate, skin-side down, grill for 7-8 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes.

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3. Mackerel with Mustard and Mayonnaise on the Grill

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Mustard always makes an excellent marinade for fish.

You will need: 2 mackerel, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp hot mustard, 1 tbsp lemon juice, salt, dried basil.

Preparation: Mix mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and dried basil. Thoroughly coat the fish with the marinade inside and out, and let it marinate for 15-20 minutes. Place the mackerel on the grill grate and bake over moderate coals for about 20 minutes, turning frequently.

4. Mackerel with Herbs and Butter on the Grill

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The butter gradually melts during cooking, infusing the fish with a delicate flavor and aroma of herbs.

You will need: 2 mackerel, 80 g butter, 1 bunch of herbs, 1 clove garlic, salt, fish seasoning.

Preparation: Mix softened butter with finely chopped herbs and salt. Gut the mackerel and rub it with spices, stuff it with the butter mixture, and bake for 15-20 minutes on the grill grate, turning.

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5. Mackerel Steaks Baked on the Grill

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In this form, mackerel cooks much faster.

You will need: 2 mackerel, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 clove garlic.

Preparation: Cut the mackerel into portioned steaks. Mix all other ingredients for the marinade, coat the fish with it, and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Place them on the grill grate and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side.

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6. Mackerel in Ginger-Lemon Marinade on the Grill

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Fresh ginger gives the fish a subtle oriental note and a pleasant, light spiciness.

You will need: 2 mackerel, 2 cm ginger root, juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, mixed peppers.

Preparation: Grate the ginger on a fine grater and mix it with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Marinate the gutted fish for 20 minutes, then cook the mackerel for 15-20 minutes on the grill grate, turning.

7. Mackerel Pieces in Kefir on the Grill

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The fermented milk base perfectly tenderizes the fibers and makes the mackerel even more delicate.

You will need: 2 mackerel, 200 ml kefir, 1 onion, 1 tsp coriander, salt, ground black pepper.

Preparation: Gut the mackerel and cut it into portioned pieces. Grate the onion, mix with kefir, salt, and spices. Marinate the fish pieces for half an hour to an hour, then shake off excess marinade and cook for 15 minutes on the grill grate, turning frequently.

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8. Mackerel in Tomato with Paprika on the Grill

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Use any tomato sauce you like.

You will need: 2 mackerel, 2 tbsp tomato sauce or paste, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 2 cloves garlic, salt.

Preparation: Mix tomato sauce, garlic pressed through a garlic press, olive oil, salt, and paprika. Cut the mackerel into large pieces, coat them in the resulting marinade, and let them marinate for 15 minutes. Then grill on the grate for 5-7 minutes on each side.