Now I love all seafood and one of my favorites is mackerel. However, mackerel is a very oily fish and needs that little something to take away that oily taste. So how about something rather unusual but delightful? Mackerel served with Gooseberry sauce! Sound revolting to you? Try it and taste for yourself that the sharp yet sweet taste of the sauce really does compliment the fish.

What you need:
4 mackerel
Salt and pepper
25g/1oz butter or margarine
For the sauce:
225g/8oz gooseberries
2 tablespoons of water
25g/1oz sugar

Cooking instructions:
The mackerel can be grilled, fried or baked in the oven. As I said earlier, mackerel is a very oily fish so very little fat is required, but they do need to be well seasoned with salt and pepper.

 

 

To grill mackerel: Preheat the grill, melt the butter or margarine and brush over the seasoned fish. Grill for about 10 minutes, allow 2 minutes on either side under a high heat and then lower the heat for the remainder of the cooking time to allow the fish to be cooked all the way through.

To fry mackerel: Melt the butter or margarine in the pan and cook as per the timings given above for grilling.

To bake mackerel: Melt the butter or margarine in a small pan. Place the seasoned fish in to an ovenproof dish and brush with the melted butter or margarine. Do not cover the dish. Bake in a moderately hot oven (190ºC/375ºF or Gas Mark 5) for about 20 minutes.

I prefer to bake my mackerel as it does allow some of its oil to be drained off prior to serving and it doesn't make a bloody mess of the grill. The CRYPTmag is not a healthy eating guide so if you want to fry your mackerel, fry 'em!

Meanwhile top and tail the gooseberries. Cook them along with the sugar and water. If the gooseberries are very sour, add more sugar to taste, but remember this sauce is better if it is not too sweet. When cooked, the gooseberries can be sieved or liquidized to produce a smooth sauce. Serve the fish and either hot or cold. Yes, its just as good cold.

Tips: Only one, don't use canned gooseberries, they are too sweet. Fresh or if out of season try frozen.
Enjoy.