Mackerel with olive oil, lemon and parsley

Lemon and parsley mackerel is a light and flavorful dish, very simple to prepare. It’s perfect for a summer meal or when you’re looking for something tasty but not too heavy.

Ingredients

• 4 fresh mackerel fillets
• 2 lemons (juice and grated zest)
• 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 bunch of fresh parsley
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 390 °F.
2. Rinse the mackerel fillets well under cold running water and pat dry with kitchen paper.
3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place the fillets on the tray with the skin side down.
4. Season the fillets with salt and black pepper to your taste.
5. Drizzle the fillets with the extra virgin olive oil, making sure to cover them thoroughly.
6. Sprinkle the juiced and grated zest of the lemons over the fillets.
7. Finely chop the fresh parsley and spread it evenly over the mackerel fillets.
8. Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the fish is cooked and flakes easily with a fork.
9. Once ready, let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Mackerel is a blue fish highly valued in the kitchen for its robust flavor and nutritional properties. Rich in Omega-3, proteins, and vitamins, mackerel is excellent consumed both fresh and preserved in oil or in its natural state.

If you want to give an Italian twist to the dish, you can add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or some chopped Taggiasca olives before baking the fillets. These ingredients will complete the dish’s flavor with a range of tastes typical of Italian cuisine.