Whole Grilled Spanish Mackerel stuffed with Garlic and Parsley will be a family favorite! Quick, easy and It is extremely tasty to fun to grill this catch of the day!
If there is ever a chance of going out with someone on their boat to go fishing, definitely, take them up on it! Especially if you are going to be catching Spanish Mackerel! These are going to knock your socks off. You know the recipes where you go “I didn’t know I liked XYZ!” That is what happens when you grill up mackerel!
So, when Jason went to work and told them that he and Spencer were going to North Carolina for the weekend to meet up with a college friend to fish for mackerel, he got a lot of blank stares!
People think of salmon, cod, halibut or even trout when they grill or cook fish. But, mackerel is king in North Carolina and shouldn’t be looked over if you have the opportunity to try it!
🐟 Ingredients
You won’t find a recipe with easier ingredients! They are all things you probably have around except for the mackerel. Here are the main ingredients you will be needing.
Spanish Mackerel | You need a whole fish that has been cleaned.
Garlic | Minced garlic is delicious and pairs beautifully with the mackerel.
Parsley | Chopped fresh herbs are an awesome way to add a pop of color and a bit of flavor too.
🔥 Instructions
Step One: Bring the grill temperature to 350°F degrees.
Step Two: After cleaning the Spanish Mackerel, prepare a garlic filling. I combined parsley, chopped garlic, sea salt and olive oil. Open the mackerel and fill the cavity with this delicious mixture.
Step Three: Lightly oil the outside of the fish before placing it on the grill to minimize the chances of it sticking to the grate.
Step Four: After 10-12 minutes, use a grilling spatula to carefully turn the fish over. Cook for another 7-10 minutes, or until the meat is opaque and is easily flaked with a fork.
Bring it inside, and serve. Carefully remove the meat from the bones and enjoy a garlic filled delicious dinner!
💡 Expert Tips
This is my favorite part of cooking! I love to figure out what I can do with the leftovers or what I can do with the extra food we have on hand and use it as the basis of a fun recipe.
- Mackerel Dip (try substituting the fish in the Trout Dip recipe)
- Spread for crackers or baguettes
- Sandwiches using the leftovers and making it similar to a tuna or chicken sandwich
- Make with Pasta – whip up a yummy three cheese pasta dish using your mackerel
- Nachos – sprinkle it on top of your normal sheet pan nachos
- Spicy Tacos
- Turn them into seafood cakes. If you only have a little, mix it with canned crab to make Mackerel Crab Cakes
You can see already that the list is endless to what to make with leftovers. If someone offers you their mackerel when you are out fishing, take it!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, yes, yes! Mackerel is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. It’s a fantastic source of vitamin B6, potassium, selenium, and more.
It has a very mild, pleasant “fishy” taste. If you like tuna, you’ll love mackerel!
You can easily identify Spanish mackerel by the yellow spots on the sides of the fish. King mackerel are usually larger and have a more pronounced lateral line as well as an absence of yellow spots. To be fair, they both taste amazing!
Related Recipes
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Grilled Whole Spanish Mackerel with a Garlic Filling
Ingredients
- 4 each Spanish Mackerel Whole, Cleaned
- 6 each Garlic Cloves Minced
- 1 tbsp Parsley Chopped
- 2 tsp Sea Salt
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
Prepare the Spanish Mackerel
- Clean the mackerel
- Brush the outside of the fish with olive oil to minimize sticking on the grill
Make the Garlic Filling
- Chop the garlic and parsley and combine with sea salt
- Use a spoon to fill the cavities of each fish with the mixture
Grill the Spanish Mackerel
- Bring grill to 350 degrees using direct heat
- Place the Spanish Mackerel on the grating
- Grill for 10-12 minutes and use a grilling spatula to carefully turn the fish over
- Grill for another 7-10 minutes until the meat is opaque and flakes easily with a fork
- Remove from grill and serve.
Notes
- Mackerel Dip (try substituting the fish in the Trout Dip recipe)
- Spread for crackers or baguettes
- Sandwiches using the leftovers and making it similar to a tuna or chicken sandwich
- Make with Pasta – whip up a yummy three cheese pasta dish using your mackerel
- Nachos – sprinkle it on top of your normal sheet pan nachos
- Spicy Tacos
- Turn them into seafood cakes. If you only have a little, mix it with canned crab to make Mackerel Crab Cakes
Nutrition
Jason’s been firing up the grill for over 30 years after graduating from the US Coast Guard Academy. His love of finely-grilled steak and chicken led him to buy his first Weber grill to put on his apartment patio in 1992. Each military move led to a new grill (a mixture of gas and charcoal) until he fell in love with the Big Green Egg in 2008. Since then, he has added another 4 grills to the collection. Yes, he has a problem. Jason loves smoking in the ceramic BGE with exotic woods including olive wood from Egypt and hard to find varieties such as sassafras and orange wood. Jason takes the term “foodie” to a whole new level, jumping at the chance to take food tours and cooking classes during foreign travels. These have provided inspiration to incorporate new ideas into recipes when he gets back home. He has been featured in Fox News, Parade, Yahoo News, Kansas City Living and more. After retiring from the military and moving to southwest Florida, he has focused grilling and smoking locally sourced meats and fish (read: he likes to catch his own fish!)
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