Cooking
Blue Mackerel:
Season
Available year round with peaks in NSW from February to
April.
Size and Weight
Commonly 200-700g and 20-35cm, but can grow to 1.5kg and
50cm (much smaller than most other Australian Mackerels).
Price
Low priced and underutilised in Australia.
Relations
Mackerels (Frigate, Grey, School, Shark, Spanish, Spotted),
Bonito, Tunas.
To Buy
Sold mainly whole (gilled and gutted) as the meat darkens
very quickly once cut. In whole fish look for lustrous skin,
firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell. In cutlets and
fillets, look for bright reddish-brown, firm, lustrous,
moist flesh without any dark brown markings or oozing water
and with a pleasant fresh sea smell.
To Store
Make sure whole fish is scaled, gutted and cleaned
thoroughly. Wrap whole fish, fillets and cutlets in plastic
wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up
to 2 days (it is best eaten as fresh as possible) or freeze
for up to 3 months below -18ēC.
To Cook
Average yield is 50%. Has a strong flavour,
moderate-high oiliness and dry, firm flesh with large flakes
and few bones, which are easily removed. The small scales
can easily be removed by running under cold water and
rubbing the skin with the fingers. It is best wrapped in
foil if baking or barbecuing, to prevent it drying out.
Score whole fish at the thickest part of the flesh to allow
even heat penetration.
Goes Well With
Strong flavours, bay, basil, citrus, curry, garlic,
mustard, onion, oregano, pepper, red wine, tomatoes,
vinegar.
Alternatives
Other Mackerels,
Jack Mackerel (not a true Mackerel, but a Trevally),
Bonito,
Striped Marlin,
Swordfish,
Trevallies,
Tunas,
Yellowtail Scad.
Microwave Cooking
Times for Fish
- Fish fillets 5 minutes per 500g on medium-high, +50
seconds more for thicker fillets, or until flesh flakes
- Whole fish - Large 6 minutes/750g on medium
- Whole fish Small 3-4 minutes on medium
Seafood Recipes
from Sea-Ex
Easy Fish Recipes - From How To Cook Fish
Marinated Mackerel - Small whole mackerel, white
wine, vinegar, onions, carrots, shallots, parsley, bay leaf,
peppercorns, thyme.
Venetian Mackerel - Mackerel, white wine, white
sauce, herbs, chervil, tarragon, potatoes.
See Also:
Slimy (or Blue) Mackerel (Scomber australasieus) Photographs
and Information
Fishing & Catching Blue Mackerel or Slimy Mackerel
Cooking Blue Mackerel | Recipes for Blue or Slimy Mackerel
Commercial Fishery for Blue (or Slimy) Mackerel (Scomber
australasieus)
Slimy (or Blue) Mackerel (Scomber australasieus) Websites, Links
& Resources |