Mackerel is a species of white fish of the mackerel family. It is considered one of the most common fish on the shelves of our stores. Mackerel is found in the Baltic and North Seas. Housewives often love to cook this insanely delicious fish. Today in the article we will learn about one of the interesting ways to cook it, namely, how to pickle mackerel in tea leaves.
How to choose fresh fish?
The key to delicious mackerel in tea leaves is the fish itself. First of all, you need to choose a fresh mackerel. Nutrition experts share several recommendations on this subject:
- First, pay attention to the eyes of the fish. They should be bright and shiny. If her eyes are cloudy, then this indicates that she is stale.
- Secondly, the gills of a mackerel should not have a white tint or any plaque. This may indicate that fish is a fungal carrier. The correct gills are red and clean.
- The skin of a mackerel should be safe and sound. If there is damage, then this is a characteristic sign that the fish spent a lot of time on the counter.
- Fish should be soft, supple and moist. You can check it this way: you need to click on the body. The resulting depression should quickly take its original shape. This will indicate the freshness of the product.
- The color should be uniform without any dark spots.
- The meat of a good mackerel is uniform, with a regular whitish-gray hue.
- The complete absence of unpleasant odors.
Tea mackerel. Ingredients
Mackerel in tea brine is quite easy and simple to cook at home. For this you need the following ingredients:
- three pieces of fresh mackerel;
- 3 tablespoons of sugar;
- table salt - 7 tablespoons;
- dry tea leaves (approximately 2-3 tablespoons);
- two liters of warm water;
- three bay leaves;
- black pepper peas;
- seasoning for pickling (to taste);
- slice of lemon.
Tea mackerel. Recipe
The cooking process itself takes a lot of time. Therefore, be patient and start cooking! Refined taste will definitely please you. We provide a recipe for mackerel in tea leaves with a photo:
- For cooking, you will need fresh fish, not frozen. Rinse the mackerel well first.
- Then it is necessary to preheat the water and pour it into a deep container.
- After that you need to add sugar and dry tea leaves there.
- Then you should put the marinade on a small fire, bring it to a boil.
- Then, pour the seasoning for the fish into the hot mixture, toss the bay leaf, black pepper and peas. Leave the consistency for a few minutes over low heat.
- After you need to cool the marinade to room temperature, add a slice of lemon to it.
- Next, pour the mackerel with marinade, cover tightly and leave in this condition for 7 hours.
- And then put it in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
Tea and Onion Pickle Fish
Tea mackerel is incredibly tasty. However, it will be much tastier to cook fish with onion brine. For this dish you need to purchase these products:
- two pieces of fresh mackerel;
- table salt - 3 tablespoons;
- dry tea leaves - one tablespoon;
- half a glass of sugar;
- husk from onions;
- liter of warm water;
- spices to taste: black pepper, peas, bay leaf, oregano, a variety of seasonings;
- a couple of lemon slices.
Cooking
Tea mackerel with onion brine will give an unusual sweet and sour taste. This dish is great for a festive table. It will be possible to prepare any side dish for it.
Mackerel in tea leaves and onion brine is prepared as follows:
- First of all, it is necessary to clean the mackerel from all the insides, cut off the head. Then it should be washed well under a stream of cold water.
- Then you need to pour warm water into the pan and put it on medium heat.
- When the water boils, it is worth adding onion peel to it, leave to cook for about 15 minutes.
- Next, pour tea leaves into a mug, pour boiling water over it (half a mug). Tea must be left to brew for several minutes.
- After you need to strain strong tea through a sieve from a herbal tea.
- From the onion marinade, remove all the husks from the onion, add salt, black pepper, bay leaf, lemon slices and a variety of spices and seasonings to it. Next, you need to boil the marinade for another 10 minutes over medium heat.
- The solution must be cooled.
- Then you should put the mackerel in a deep container, pour the marinade there, cover with cling film on top and leave to marinate in a cool place for several days.
Garnish for fish
Pickled mackerels can be served on the table with many different side dishes. For example, boiled potatoes, lightly salted rice or baked vegetables.
We will tell you several options for preparing a delicious side dish for mackerel in tea leaves:
- Rice with onions will be an excellent side dish for salted fish. First you need to rinse the round rice well. Then you should peel the leek and cut it into small cubes. Throw a piece of butter on a hot frying pan, lightly brown the chopped onion to a golden hue. Add onion to the onion, add sunflower oil and slightly darken. Then pour water, salt, cover and leave to stew. Then you need to drain the remaining water, and put the rice on a napkin to absorb excess oil. The side dish is ready.
- Best of all, boiled potatoes with carrots are suitable for fish. The potato should be washed well under water and put in a uniform to cook. Then peel the onions and carrots. Next, you need to heat the pan, add the butter there. At this time, carrots must be rubbed on a coarse grater, and chopped onions. Then we send the vegetables to a frying pan, fry on low heat until golden brown. Ready potatoes should be peeled and cut. Then add the vegetables. A delicious and satisfying side dish is ready for pickled mackerel.
- You can also peel vegetables and boil them over low heat. Then cut into equal pieces and serve with fish. Vegetables can be any. For example, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli and so on.
Good appetite!