{"id":3447,"date":"2022-11-01T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T09:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firebowls.com\/blog\/?p=300"},"modified":"2024-11-11T08:37:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T08:37:24","slug":"mackerel-on-bbq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardenbenches.com\/blog\/mackerel-on-bbq\/","title":{"rendered":"Mackerel On BBQ: Cooking Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all love a good BBQ, especially during the warmer months. While a plethora of red meats, sausages and burgers are a popular choice, the healthier, and often tastier, alternative is to cook fish on the BBQ. One particular fish that is delicious on the old grill is mackerel. Mackerel on BBQ? Perfect! This tasty fish is full of essential vitamins and minerals and grills well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The best thing about BBQing mackerel is that you can do so on a huge set-up just as easily as you can on a quality\u00a0<\/span>fire pit BBQ<\/span><\/a>. Before you throw your mackerel on BBQ, here are some tips on retaining the best this fish offers in terms of taste and nutrition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Temperature Should You Cook Mackerel At?<\/span><\/h2>\n

As with many proteins, mackerel can be overcooked as well as undercooked. If you undercook mackerel, you risk food poisoning or parasite infestation. Overcooking is also not good as the flesh is then dry and tough to eat. So, the big question is, what temperature should mackerel be cooked?<\/span>[i]<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When we consider the right temperature for cooking mackerel, it depends on the cooking method. When it comes to cooking mackerel on BBQ, you should aim for an internal temperature of around 63\u00b0C. While you can just guess and cook the mackerel on both sides until golden brown, grilling is tricky because you may not be able to gauge the exact cooking temperature. Play it safe and invest in a meat thermometer and check by inserting the probe in the thickest part of the fish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How To Prepare Mackerel For BBQing<\/span>[ii]<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

Preparing mackerel for BBQing is easy, especially if you have a good fishmonger. Many fresh fish markets will de-scale and gut the fish for you; this is half the job done. However, if you\u2019re bringing home the whole mackerel, you will have to do most of the prep work yourself. To prepare mackerel for BBQing, follow these simple steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. De-scale the fish<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Using the back of the knife, run the blade against the skin, starting from the tail and working your way towards the head. This is also a good time to cut off the fins (you can leave the tail). Rinse the outside of the fish with cold water to flush off any loose scales.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Gut the fish<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Slide a fileting knife on the underside of the fish, almost to the neck of the fish. Then, using the knife, scrape out all the internal parts of the fish. Rinse with cold water.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Pat the fish dry with clean paper<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0towels \u2013 Once you have de-scaled and gutted your fish, rinse the fish under cold water. Shake off the excess water and pat the entire fish dry with paper towels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. The rest is easy<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Marinade your fish or season it to your taste or a specific recipe. You should also rub a few drops of olive oil on the skin to ensure it won\u2019t stick to the grill. This will also make the skin nice and crispy during grilling.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    BBQ Mackerel With Spices<\/span><\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    One of the best things about mackerel on BBQ is that it doesn\u2019t have an overwhelming \u201cfishy\u201d taste, especially if you can get your hands on fresh mackerel. The flesh is more on the sweet side and isn\u2019t too salty. This means you can add lots of flavours using herbs and spices when BBQing. Here\u2019s one recipe that will become a family favourite.<\/span><\/p>\n

    You will need the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

    Equipment<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n