Mackerel with Orange Sauce and Zucchini Flowers

The mackerel with orange sauce and zucchini flowers is a recipe that combines the freshness of the fish with the sweetness of the orange and the delicacy of the zucchini flowers. Here’s the recipe for this tasty dish.

Ingredients

• 4 fresh mackerel fillets
• 2 untreated oranges
• 200 grams of zucchini flowers
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A bunch of fresh parsley
• A glass of dry white wine

Preparation

1. Start with the preparation of the zucchini flower sauce. Clean the zucchini flowers carefully by removing the inner pistil and washing them gently under running water.
2. In a small pan, sauté a finely chopped small onion and a clove of garlic with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. When the onion becomes translucent, add the zucchini flowers cut into strips.
3. Deglaze with a glass of dry white wine, let the alcohol evaporate, season with a little salt, and then cook over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens. Remove the garlic and set aside.
4. For the mackerel, rinse the fillets and pat them dry with paper towels. Grate the rind of one orange, making sure to take only the colored part and not the white part, which is bitter.
5. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of oil and lay the mackerel fillets skin side down. Cook them for about 2 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 2 minutes.
6. In the meantime, squeeze the juice of the two oranges. When you have flipped the fillets, pour the juice over them and let a sauce form by reducing the liquid on high heat. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Carefully move the fillets onto a serving dish, drizzle with the orange sauce created in the pan and distribute the zucchini flower sauce over or next to the mackerel fillets.
8. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and grated orange zest.

Curiosity

Zucchini flowers are a highly appreciated ingredient in Italian cuisine, used not only as a side dish or ingredient for first courses but also as a star in more elaborate recipes. Their delicacy perfectly matches stronger flavors like that of mackerel.

Enjoy your meal!