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Home » Main Dishes » Crispy grilled mackerel with garlic & lemon

Crispy grilled mackerel with garlic & lemon

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We love the crispy, smoky skin and juicy, flavourful flesh of this delicious grilled mackerel. Packed with Omega 3, it’s a healthy family favourite dinner.

First, let me apologise for the sub-standard photos accompanying this recipe for grilled mackerel. I’ve made this garlicky grilled mackerel several times recently and failed to get a really good picture on any occasion. Mostly because we didn’t want to wait around taking photographs of it when we could be eating it!

grilled mackerel with garlic & lemon.

Grilled mackerel – simply delicious

The whole family loves this simple grilled mackerel dish, with its crispy, smoky skin, and juicy, flavourful flesh. It’s so easy to make and really delicious! Plus of course terrifically healthy as mackerel is an oily fish and packed with Omega 3 fatty acids.

Mackerel – an oily fish

As well as Omega 3, Mackerel is also a great source of vitamin B12, as well as niacin, iron, vitamin B6, riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, and selenium. Studies have shown that regularly eating oily fish like mackerel can potentially improve your heart health, reduce inflammation, and lower your risk of cancer and arthritis. They may even reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline. 

The NHS recommends eating a portion of oily fish like mackerel about once a week, as part of a healthy diet.

grilled mackerel with garlic & lemon.

Healthy & delicious – oily fish

Other kinds of oily fish you might like to add to your diet include:

  • Herring (including kippers, pickled herring and schmaltz herring)
  • Pilchards
  • Sardines
  • Anchovies
  • Salmon (including smoked salmon and tinned salmon)
  • Trout
  • Tuna

A fish stall with boxes of different varieties of fish.

Save your pennies

As well as it’s impressive credentials when it comes to nutrition, mackerel is also fairly inexpensive compared to some other fish. So this grilled mackerel is a budget-friendly dinner as well as a healthy one!

Ingredients for delicious grilled mackerel

I like to keep it simple, as mackerel has a delicious flavour all of its own. I just use lemon and garlic to enhance the natural flavour, making this an easy and tasty fish dish.

To make this yummy grilled mackerel yourself, all you will need is:

  • Fresh mackerel fillets – of course!
  • Lemon juice
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Salt and pepper

Plus some chopped parsley and wedges of lemon to serve, if you like.

Ingredients for making grilled mackerel - mackerel fillets, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.

Grilled mackerel – indoors or out

As you can see in the (terrible) photo above, I cooked these grilled mackerel in a cast iron griddle pan on the stove. However you can also cook them up al fresco on the barbecue, if the British weather permits. The mackerel fillets can be quite fragile though, so I’d recommend using a barbecue fish holder or something similar to prevent them falling apart too much.

grilled mackerel with garlic & lemon.

Grilled mackerel – Plus a bit on the side!

I serve these lovely grilled mackerel sprinkled with chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon – zingy!

They don’t require much else by way of accompaniment. Maybe some crusty bread and butter and a simple fresh salad? Israeli chopped vegetable salad is ideal as the sharp lemony dressing cuts the oiliness of the fish perfectly. So easy!

I’m sure we’ll be eating this several more times before the summer is over, so I’ll keep trying to get a good photo. Any excuse to eat it again!

We love the crispy, smoky skin & juicy, flavourful flesh of this delicious grilled mackerel. Packed with Omega 3, it's a healthy family favourite dinner.

If you want deliciously easy, family-friendly recipes like this one delivered straight to your inbox, simply click here to subscribe. (Of course, I’ll never pass on your email address to anyone.)

grilled mackerel with garlic & lemon.

Grilled mackerel with lemon and garlic

Prevent your screen from going dark
This delicious mackerel has crispy, smoky skin and juicy, flavourful flesh. Packed with Omega 3, it's a healthy family dinner.
4.91 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Marinating 20 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine European
Servings 4
Calories 412 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 mackerel fillets
  • Juice of a lemon
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • Salt and pepper
  • Chopped parsley and lemon wedges to serve (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the mackerel fillets and pat dry. Remove any stray bones with tweezers, and place the fillets in a large shallow dish.
  • Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and crushed garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the fish and turn the mackerel fillets to coat. Cover the dish and leave to marinate for 15-20 minutes.
  • Heat a ridged griddle pan over a medium-high heat. Cook the fish fillets in batches for 2-3 minutes on each side. Cook the skin-side first, and take care when turning to ensure that the skin is released from the pan and does not stick.
  • Transfer the fish to a serving dish. You may want to keep the grilled mackerel warm in a low oven while you cook the remaining fillets.
  • Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley, and with wedges of lemon to squeeze over.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Grilled mackerel with lemon and garlic
Serving Size
 
2 fillets
Amount per Serving
Calories
412
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
28
g
43
%
Saturated Fat
 
6
g
38
%
Cholesterol
 
85
mg
28
%
Sodium
 
155
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
740
mg
21
%
Carbohydrates
 
1
g
0
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
36
g
72
%
Vitamin A
 
112
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
46
mg
5
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword fish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More delicious fish recipes

Other fish recipes you might enjoy include this delicious hake with caramelised onions, thyme and smoked paprika, or this simple sea bream with herbs and lemon.

If you’re particularly looking for recipes using oily fish, how about:

  • Cauliflower with anchovies and garlic
  • Smoked salmon and kale pasta
  • Citrus and herb salmon kebabs
  • Tinned salmon, broccoli and tomato pasta bake
  • Tuna puttanesca with tagliatelle
  • Easy smoked mackerel kedgeree
grilled mackerel with garlic & lemon.

I’m linking this recipe up with Eating Al Fresco.

« Avocado toast with smoked mackerel and lime
Banana bread with streusel topping – refined sugar free! »
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam

    October 05, 2021 at 2:43 pm

    5 stars
    We love mackerel but have never thought about grilling it. Thanks for all the tips!

    Reply
    • Helen

      October 05, 2021 at 9:59 pm

      Thanks Pam – I’m sure you’ll love it cooked this way.

      Reply
    • Angela

      March 04, 2022 at 11:44 pm

      Please check your nutrition facts. Supposedly mackerel is height in omega 3 you show it as saturated fats? is that correct? recently had to change to heart healthy diet and mackerel is recommended so i find this confusing. please advise

      Reply
      • Helen

        March 09, 2022 at 12:02 pm

        Hi Angela, Mackerel is an oily fish so quite high in fat, and a proportion of that fat is saturated. If you have questions about a diet that has been medically recommended for you, then you should speak to your doctor or nutritionist. You may also find this nutrition data from the USDA helpful: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/175119/nutrients
        All the best, Helen x.

        Reply
    • Luis Feliciano

      May 28, 2022 at 1:13 am

      I tried the grill recipe. It didn’t came out as the picture ,but the flavor was awesome. Thanks

      Reply
      • Helen

        May 30, 2022 at 10:37 am

        So glad you enjoyed it Luis! Thanks 🙂

        Reply
  2. Andrea

    October 05, 2021 at 2:20 pm

    5 stars
    These Mackerel fillets look fantastic! Love the garlic and lemon with them.

    Reply
    • Helen

      October 05, 2021 at 2:26 pm

      Thanks Andrea. The garlic and lemon really pack in the flavour – so good!

      Reply
  3. Lisa Huff

    October 05, 2021 at 2:11 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect crispy fish in no time! Love how easy this is for a weeknight dinner or even a special dinner.

    Reply
    • Helen

      October 05, 2021 at 2:14 pm

      Thanks Lisa! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jennifer

    October 05, 2021 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    This is a terrific recipe! The lemon really sets it off, and I love that it is low carb, too! Yum!

    Reply
    • Helen

      October 05, 2021 at 2:09 pm

      Thanks Jennifer! Yes, just add a salad or some veggies and you’ve got a delicious low carb meal ready to go.

      Reply
  5. munchiesandmunchkins

    August 07, 2016 at 4:33 pm

    Beautifully crispy! Thanks for linking up to Eating Al Fresco.x

    Reply
  6. fabfood4all

    July 29, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    Oh your mackerel look totally amazing Helen, love fresh fish on the BBQ. Thanks for entering Credit Crunch Munch:-)

    Reply
  7. evelyn

    July 23, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    is this recipe for fresh mackerel or for the canned?

    Reply
    • Helen

      July 25, 2016 at 10:49 pm

      Hi Evelyn. This recipe uses fresh mackerel fillets. I hope you enjoy them! Helen x.

      Reply
  8. Eb Gargano

    July 19, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    Yum! I love mackerel and this recipe sounds gorgeous – loving the sound of that
    Israeli vegetable salad too! Have pinned both 🙂 Eb x

    Reply
    • Helen

      July 20, 2016 at 10:50 am

      Thanks Eb! The salad is great with everything, but the sweet acidity works really well with the oily fish. Yum!

      Reply
  9. hijackedbytwins

    July 18, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    We love mackerel, not only is is healthy but it is also one of the cheaper fish. Love how they don’t hang around long enough for a picture! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x

    Reply
    • Helen

      July 18, 2016 at 7:10 pm

      Healthy, tasty and economical – what’s not to love! One day I’ll get a decent picture. One day…

      Reply
  10. Lancashire Food

    July 16, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    What a tasty and healthy dish, thanks for linking up to credit crunch munch

    Reply
    • Helen

      July 18, 2016 at 7:10 pm

      Thanks! And thanks for hosting 🙂

      Reply
  11. littlesunnykitchen

    July 16, 2016 at 9:06 am

    I love mackerel and it pairs really well with lemon and garlic. Yum!

    Reply
    • Helen

      July 18, 2016 at 7:09 pm

      Thanks! Yes, it really stands up to strong flavours. Love it!

      Reply
  12. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

    July 15, 2016 at 9:43 am

    I haven’t managed to get the hang of using my cast iron pan, it seems such a faff to have to oil it every time! Everyone raves about them though, how do you find it?

    Reply
    • Helen

      July 15, 2016 at 12:53 pm

      I love ours! We use it all the time but I must admit I never oil it. Oops. It doesn’t seem to mind though. Just generously oil the food before you put it into the hot pan. We use it for veggies, fish, halloumi… We also have a separate one for meat but that’s DH’s department!

      Reply
  13. Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes

    July 15, 2016 at 8:10 am

    Mackerel is amazingly good for you with all of those healthy oils. Really love this recipe and it’s simplicity.

    Reply
    • Helen

      July 15, 2016 at 12:54 pm

      Thanks Jemma. I love mackerel – healthy, economical and delicious!!

      Reply

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