Lemon Mackerel Food

LEMON GARLIC MACKEREL

Steps:

• Lay the fillets of fish on a baking tray, which has been covered with foil for easy clean up.
• Sprinkle with salt and leave for 5-10 minutes. This helps give the flesh a firmer texture but you may omit this step if you prefer.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven grill.
• Mix together the garlic, lemon and some freshly ground black pepper.
• Pour over the mackerel and then put in the oven to grill for about 5 minutes.
• If you have some fresh herbs like parsley to hand you could finely chop them and sprinkle them over the fish at this point.
• Serve with your favourite veggies.

MACKEREL WITH LEMON OLIVE OIL AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Make the oil: In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil and lemon zest until you see the first tiny bubble appear on the side of the pan. Immediately turn off heat. You don't want the mixture to simmer.
• Let infuse for at least 20 minutes (and preferably an hour) before using; you do not have to strain it. Oil can be made up to a month in advance. Store in a sealed jar at room temperature.
• When ready to prepare the fish, heat oven to 425 degrees. Place the basil leaves on a rimmed baking dish and arrange fish on top. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper, then drizzle the lemon oil over the fillets. Top with olives. Scatter tomatoes around the pan.
• Roast until the fish is just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes for thin fillets and up to 12 minutes for thick fillets.
• Cut naked lemon into wedges. Serve fish drizzled with more lemon oil, garnished with lemon wedges and torn basil leaves.

LEMON MACKEREL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse fish fillets and lay on paper towels to dry. Rub a glass casserole dish with olive oil. Also rub fish fillets with olive oil. Lay fillets skin side down in dish. Pour lemon juice on fish (1/4 inch in dish) and spread fish with butter. Sprinkle with salt and lemon-pepper seasoning. Put about three slices of lemon on each fillet. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until fish flakes easily with fork. If you would like your fillet to brown more, put it under the broiler for 2 to 3 extra minutes.

GRILLED WHOLE MACKEREL WITH LEMON, OREGANO, AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Whisk together zest, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste, then add olive oil in a stream, whisking until combined well. Whisk in olives and chopped oregano.
• Make 1-inch-long slits at 2-inch intervals down middle of fish on both sides with a sharp paring knife, then brush fish all over with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper. Season fish cavity with salt and pepper, then evenly distribute 3 lemon rounds and 3 oregano sprigs in cavity. Close cavity, then evenly arrange remaining 3 lemon rounds and 3 oregano sprigs on top of fish and tie fish closed with string at 2-inch intervals, securing lemon slices and oregano sprigs to fish.
• Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderate.
• Grill fish on lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using gas grill, 15 minutes. Turn fish over using a metal spatula and tongs, then grill until just cooked through, about 15 minutes more.
• Transfer fish to a large platter using 2 metal spatulas, then cut and discard string. Serve fish with sauce.

LEMON, CHILE & GARLIC PAN-FRIED MACKEREL WITH QUICK BUTTER BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Ensure you have a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper and score the skin a couple of times. Add to the pan skin-side down and fry for 1 to 2 minutes until golden and crisp. Once you have placed the mackerel into the pan add the butter, garlic and parsley to the pan. Turn the fish, tossing the garlic. Carefully turn the fish over, and cook for another 30 seconds, transfer to a plate and keep warm.
• Tip in the butter beans, spinach and lemon zest. Add the stock and cook for a minute to wilt the spinach. Season well. Chop the parsley and set aside.
• Serve the spinach and butter beans in the base of a shallow bowl and top with the crispy mackerel fillets along with the parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.