Grilled Mackerel

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Mackerel has got to be one of my favorite fish. So when it comes time for an incredibly easy fish recipe, I turn to this grilled Mackerel Fillets with Green Goddess Dressing. I love that It’s quick, simple, packed with flavor, and pretty impossible to mess up. and sooooo easy and can be made all year long.

The fish fillets are pretty much prepped in 5 minutes with a handful of ingredients. Then over to the grill for that easy summer grilling or all year round grilling that I live for.

You have probably noticed the abundance of BBQ recipes here lately. Like this Grilled Avocado, delicious Grilled Chicken Tenders, easy peasy Grilled Broccoli and Grilled Corn On The Cob and toasted marshmallows every evening. That is because we have gone all grown up and got ourselves an awesome BBQ grill with a smoker. So, watch this space.

Why Make This Recipe

• This tasty treats is on of the most affordable fish around, normally at least half the price of salmon. So a great recipe to scale up to feed a crowd or meal prepping.
• I love how easy it is to make this using things you already own.
• It is super quick to cook in about 15 minutes from the grill to your plate.
• Perfect for BBQs, campfires, backyard pits, grilling on the stovetop, and more.

Ingredient Notes And Variations

For The Fish:

• Fish: I tend to use fresh mackerel fillets, as fillets cook quicker and I am all about easy and quick. You can use whole mackerel too, but remember cook time will be different.
• Oil: I use olive oil or canola oil but use what you have and like.
• Seasoning: I keep it simple with just salt and pepper to taste. Red pepper flakes, oregano, dill, garlic salt etc all work too.

Homemade Green Goddess Dressing:

• Yogurt: I prefer plain creamy Greek yogurt but have also used sour cream and creme fraiche instead. They all taste awesome.
• Avocado and green onion: Make sure to use ripe avocados as these will mash easily. Make sure to cut of any part of the green onion that may hold any soil.
• Herbs and spices: I love the flavor fresh chopped fresh cilantro and fresh parsley add to this. Some friends have also added in fresh basil. A pinch of red pepper flakes in fab.
• Sharpness: I add some with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar as well as somr freshly squeezed lemon juice. A bit of lemon zest adds so much extra yum.
• Optional sweetener: I sometimes add a little sweetness with honey or maple syrup.

How To Grill Mackerel

If you’ve got 15 minutes and a few pantry staples, you’ve got everything you need to pull off a this recipe. Do check out the recipe card further below for the full list of recipe instructions.

Grill The Fish:

• Preheat the grill / grill pan / barbecue, etc to medium hot.
• Wash fillets and pat them dry.
• Lightly oil the grates / grill pan or bbq, place the fillets on, brush with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place the tray or grill rack on top of the heat (skin side down) and close the lid.
• Cook the fillets for about 5-6 minutes, turning halfway through until done, and set aside.
• Whilst grilling, make the green goddess dressing by adding yogurt, vinegar, green onions, herbs, lemon juice, honey (if using), and red pepper flakes to a blender and blending until smooth.
• Plate the grilled fish and drizzle on some green goddess dressing, some grilled vegetables, and lemon or lime slices.

Bintu’s Recipe Tips And Optional Toppings

• My top tip for grilling mackerel is to use a fish grill rack, especially when cooking the fish on the BBQ. It keeps the food together and stops it from sticking to the barbecue grill. It makes the whole process of flipping them much easier.
• I recommend oiling the grill grates (you can use olive oil or canola oil) to help prevent the food from sticking to the grates.
• I love cooking these on a charcoal grill for smoky flavor.
• If you prefer you can marinate the fish in your favorite marinade before cooking.
• You don’t need to baste this during grilling as it is an oily fish already.
• If you can only find whole fish, but prefer fillets, have the fishmonger fillet it for you.
• If the dressing is too thick, then thin it out with a tablespoon or two of water before you eat.

Delicious Variations

Mackerel has a pretty awesome flavor already so I have kept the seasoning to a minimum but of course, you can experiment to your taste.

• Vary spices and flavorings – Use different spices for different flavor profiles like crushed garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, gluten free soy sauce, etc.
• Add heat – with red pepper flakes, chipotle, cayenne pepper, etc.
• Vary the fish – you can use other fish like salmon, tuna, and sea bass but the cook time may be different depending on the size of the fillets.

Storage

• Store – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. 

FAQs

More Grill Recipes You Might Like

Check out these recipes below including more seafood recipes you’ll probably like.

• Grilled Chicken Tenders.
• Grilled Chicken Salad.
• Honey Bourbon Grilled Chicken Thighs.
• Grilled Mackerel.
• Grilled Lamb Kabobs.
• Grilled Lamb Tacos.
• Stuffed Grilled Avocado.
• Easy Grilled Peaches.
• Best Grilled Broccoli.
• Air Fryer Veggie Kabobs.
• Cilantro Lime Shrimp Skewers.
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
• Grilled Shrimp Salad.
• Easy Watermelon Skewers.
• Bacon and Chicken Skewers.

Weight Watchers Points

This contains 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints per serving.

Thank you for reading my Grilled Mackerel Recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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