Mackerel is a fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, phosphorus and other beneficial substances. Its regular consumption can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart and vascular diseases. And also contributes to weight loss - this is if you eat not salted or smoked product, but baked or boiled. Lemon will give the finished dish a special taste (with a little acidity!). How to cook mackerel in the oven with this citrus fruit will be discussed later in the article.
How to choose fish for baking?
Before you cook mackerel in the oven with lemon, you still need to choose the right one. It is better to buy fish in a fish or other store - so you can be more confident in its quality. When purchasing, you need to look at:
- gills - they should be bright red, divided into plates, without mucus;
- the skin is good if it is of a natural color (even the best mackerel may not have scales, since the fish often lose it during fishing);
- eyes - in fresh fish they are transparent.
If the fish is gutted, its freshness can be determined by the bloody remains of a bright red color and an almost complete absence of smell. To choose frozen mackerel, you should look at the purity of the eyes and gills. The stomach of the fish should be without bulges. If they are, it is better to refuse the purchase.
Basic principles of cooking fish
You can bake mackerel with lemon in the oven directly on a baking sheet, as well as in a sleeve or foil. With this cooking method, almost all the useful substances that were in fresh fish are preserved. You need to start cooking with defrosting. It is better to do this at room temperature, simply by putting the product in a cup. When the mackerel is almost thawed (not completely!), You need to cut the abdomen, get the insides.
Immediately remove the dark films, remove the tail, gills and fins. The head can not be removed, many cooks bake fish with it. When everything is done, the product should be washed thoroughly with water and dried with towels. Further, it all depends on the recipe for mackerel with lemon for the oven. You can leave the fish whole or cut into pieces. The taste of this will not change.
What spices can I use?
Mackerel baked in foil in the oven with lemon (or in any other way) will turn out to be especially tasty if cooked with the “right” spices. It could be:
- a mixture of red and black peppers (seasoning enhances the taste of fish);
- dried ginger (adds a light speck);
- thyme or oregano (give a little spice);
- a pinch of lemon balm (improves palatability);
- ground lavrushka or celery (add a bit of fragrance and pungency).
But cumin, coriander and cardamom when baking mackerel in the oven is better not to use. These spices are too saturated, they easily interrupt the taste.
How to bake mackerel in foil?
The foil has one side matte and the other shiny. The first transmits heat, the second reflects. So, fish need to be laid out on the shiny side. Through the matte heat it will penetrate inside and stay there for a long time. Therefore, the fish is better baked and will become juicy. Mackerel must be baked for at least half an hour, more is better. Cooking times are usually indicated in recipes. After baking, the product can be served directly on the table in foil - this is if you are not expecting anyone to visit. If the fish is preparing for the festive table, it should be transferred to a dish and decorated with greens.
Recipe number 1: mackerel baked with lemon and garlic
This is one of the easiest fish recipes. The dish on it turns out, though not quite exquisite, but definitely delicious. Try to make it at home, your husband / wife and children will lick their fingers.
Ingredients:
- fresh mackerel - 2 pcs.;
- whole lemon - 1 pc.;
- any mayonnaise - 3 tbsp. spoons (less possible!);
- cloves of garlic - 3 pcs.;
- salt and freshly ground pepper;
- green parsley - 3 branches.
Cooking method:
Get, clean, rinse mackerel. Make 4 deep incisions along the carcass (do not touch the ridge!). Sprinkle fish with spices, grate from the inside. Leave on for 5 minutes. During this time, chop the parsley branches, chop the peeled garlic, squeeze the juice from half a lemon. Mix everything, place the resulting mass in the abdomen of the fish. Carefully place the mackerel into shape. Top with mayonnaise and garnish with lemon slices (you need to cut the second half of citrus!). Put the mold in a preheated oven, bake at a temperature of 180 degrees 45 minutes. After this, the dish can be considered ready, it must be served.
Recipe number 2: fish cooked with vegetables
If you want something more sophisticated, you can make a mackerel in the oven with lemon and tomatoes, as well as other vegetables. This dish is very tasty, incredibly juicy and tender.
Ingredients:
- fresh mackerel - 2 pcs.;
- medium-sized tomatoes - 2 pcs.;
- sweet fleshy pepper - 2 pcs.;
- medium-sized potatoes - 0.5 kg;
- onion heads - 2 pcs.;
- low-fat sour cream - 3 tbsp. spoons;
- lemon - 1 piece;
- small carrot - 1 pc.;
- salt and other spices - as needed.
Cooking method:
Cut the peeled mackerel into small pieces. Put in the form. Place chopped vegetables on top. Mix sour cream with spices and juice squeezed from half a lemon. The resulting mass pour the contents of the baking dish. Put in the oven for 45 minutes. The baking temperature is 180 degrees. After the mackerel in foil in the oven with lemon is ready, take it out, mix gently (you can not do this!). Arrange on plates and serve.
Recipe number 3 for the oven: mackerel with lemon and onions
This is another interesting fish dish. It is cooked with chicken eggs. It turns out delicious. The amount of ingredients used to make the filling can be reduced.
- fresh mackerel - 1 piece (or 600 grams);
- lemon - enough half;
- small onions - 2 heads;
- boiled eggs - 2 pcs.;
- melted ghee - 3 tbsp. spoons;
- salt and spices - according to taste preferences;
- chopped dill - enough handfuls.
Cooking method:
To cook a mackerel baked in foil in the oven with lemon and boiled eggs, you first need to clean and wash the fish. Divide it into 2 full fillets. Peel and chop onions and eggs. Next, connect 2 sheets of food foil, put them on the table. Lubricate lightly with oil. Put one fish fillet on top, sprinkle with lemon juice. Arrange onion with eggs on top. Pour lightly melted butter. Cover the products with a second filet. Roll foil tightly around the fish. Gently shift everything onto a baking sheet. Bake at 185 degrees for about half an hour. Expand the dish and serve.
Recipe number 4: mackerel with lemon and spices
Fish according to this recipe is obtained with a spicy aroma and a slight acidity. She literally melts in her mouth. Your friends will no doubt ask for your advice on cooking. They will say: “Here we prepare mackerel with lemon in the oven in different ways, but it still does not turn out so delicious.” And they will definitely call you a skilled chef.
Ingredients (2 servings):
- fresh mackerel - 2 pcs.;
- rosemary and salt to taste;
- dry oregano, ground pepper - to taste;
- sesame seeds - 2 teaspoons;
- cloves of garlic - 4 pcs.;
- lemon - 0.5 pcs.;
- basil - 1 teaspoon;
- vegetable oil - 3 tbsp. spoons.
Cooking method:
First you need to prepare a mackerel: cut off all the fins, eliminate the head. Divide the carcass along the ridge, take out the insides and bones. Rinse the fish thoroughly and wipe with towels. Make a marinade: for this, add all the listed herbs, garlic, sesame, and juice squeezed from half a lemon to vegetable oil. Mix everything well. Salt the fish, pepper and grate the marinade.
Make cuts on top and insert lemon slices. In this form, leave the mackerel to marinate for 1 hour. Bake the fish in the oven: to do this, put it on the wire rack, put a baking sheet under the bottom. Bake so at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes. Give the finished fish a little brew and serve with a side dish.
How to serve mackerel baked with lemon?
It all depends on how you cooked it. If with various vegetables, including potatoes, then you can without anything. The dish is already self-sufficient. If it was prepared simply with lemon and onions, then you can serve mackerel baked in the oven with lemon: rice porridge, boiled potatoes (or mashed potatoes), vegetable salad (for example, from cucumbers with tomatoes), lettuce or sliced ​​sweet pepper different colors. Of the drinks, you should prefer white or red dry wine.
Mackerel with lemon: tricks and tips
To make the dish truly tasty and worthy of a festive table, follow these recommendations:
- You need to start cooking mackerel when it is slightly frostbitten. In this case, she can additionally marinate in her own juice.
- When wrapping fish in foil, make sure that there is an air gap between the product and the product.
- Place mackerel prepared for baking only in a preheated oven.
- In order for the fish to be saturated with the aroma of spices, try to cook the first 10-20 minutes at a temperature of 150 degrees.
- At the end of baking, be sure to increase the temperature. It can even be 10-20 degrees higher than the desired value (such is indicated in the recipes). Unroll the foil a little. Then the mackerel is covered with a fragrant crust.
Following these few tips, you can cook such an amazing dish that households and guests will lick their fingers and be sure to ask for supplements, be prepared for this. Enjoy your meal!