Grilled Mackerel with Tomato, Fennel, and Capers
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Ingredients (15)
For the tapenade:
- 1 cup green olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 1 medium lemon)
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
For the fish:
- 6 medium tomatoes (about 2 pounds), cored, halved, and seeds removed
- 2 medium fennel bulbs (about 1 pound), stalks and fronds removed, quartered through the roots
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the grill
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup fish broth or clam juice
- 2 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Pinch saffron threads
- 4 (6-ounce) mackerel fillets
- 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
- 12 caperberries or 2 teaspoons capers
Nutritional Information
- Calories662
- Fat49.45g
- Saturated fat9.19g
- Trans fat
- Carbs20.74g
- Fiber7.86g
- Sugar10.84g
- Protein36.37g
- Cholesterol119.07mg
- Sodium811.02mg
- Nutritional Analysis per serving (4 servings) Powered by
Tip
How to Store Fish
The best way to store fish is over ice. Remove the fish from its original packaging, rinse under cold water, and dry with paper towels. Set fish on a cooling rack and place inside a container filled with crushed ice. The ice should reach just beneath the fish, but shouldn’t touch it. Cover the container, rack, and fish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in the fridge. If the fish is stored longer than 24 hours, be sure to swap out the melted ice with a new batch. Ideally, any fresh fish should not be stored for more than two days.
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Tip
How to Freeze Fish
Some fish can be frozen for up to year (with three months as the standard), but its freshness depends entirely on its exposure to air. To limit this from taking place, you should first clean the fish, wrap it in aluminum foil or freezer paper, and place it in a freezer bag. Press down on the bag before closing to eliminate any excess air.
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Next: How to Thaw Fish
Tip
How to Thaw Fish
Thawing frozen fish is quite an easy process. Simply leave it in the refrigerator overnight or place the wrapped fish in a bowl of cold water. Don’t microwave the fish, as some sections will cook while others are continuing to thaw.
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Next: How to Store Fish
Known as an oily fish with an assertive flavor, mackerel can handle other big flavors that would steamroll over more delicately flavored fish, like capers, olives, and fennel. Grilling the vegetables for the sauce and then grilling the fish adds an extra smoky essence to this dish.
Special equipment: You will need a pastry brush for this recipe.
Game plan: To keep the fish from sticking to the grill, once the grill is hot, use the scraper to remove any residue from previous grilling sessions. Then follow the instructions for oiling the grill right before cooking.
This dish was featured as part of our Recipes to Help You Conquer Your Fish-Grilling Fears.
Instructions
For the tapenade:
- 1Place all of the ingredients in a small, nonreactive bowl and stir to combine; set aside.
For the fish:
- 1Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium high (about 375°F to 425°F).
- 2Meanwhile, brush the tomatoes and fennel all over with half of the measured olive oil and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
- 3When the grill is ready, place the tomatoes and fennel on the grill and cook uncovered until grill marks form, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the vegetables and cook until grill marks appear on the other side, about 3 to 4 minutes more. Remove to a cutting board.
- 4When the vegetables are cool enough to handle, cut and discard the cores from the fennel. Chop both the fennel and tomatoes into 1-1/2-inch pieces and place in a medium saucepan. Add the fish broth or clam juice, garlic, and saffron and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the vegetables have softened, about 20 minutes. Keep warm while you grill the fish. (If you’re using a grill pan, use several layers of paper towel to wipe the pan clean before grilling the fish.)
- 5Heat the grill to medium high. Rub the grates with a towel dipped in olive oil.
- 6Pat the mackerel fillets dry with paper towels. Brush both sides with the remaining measured olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper. Place the fillets on the grill skin-side down and cook until grill marks appear, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets with a flat spatula and cook until grill marks appear on the other side and the fish is cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Remove the fillets to a plate and tent with foil.
- 7Add the parsley to the warm tomato-fennel mixture and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- 8Divide the tomato-fennel mixture among 4 rimmed serving plates or shallow bowls and top each serving with a piece of mackerel. Top the fish with about 1 tablespoon of the tapenade (you will have some left over), sprinkle with the caperberries or capers, and serve immediately.
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