Lightly-Fried Mackerel (serves 2)

fried mackerel

There are many ways to prepare mackerel or similar fish. Growing up this is one of the ways we ate the fish we caught. First, catch or buy the fish, preferably whole. Second, clean the fish (scale--if there is any and gut the fish), trim off the fins and hack the whole fish into roughly one-inch cross-sections. Third, sprinkle a little freshly ground pepper, salt on both sides and lightly fry in a small amount of oil until done. Sometimes we ate the fish with rice, a large platter of fresh herbs, lettuce, cucumber and tomato slices and hot chili pepper dipping sauce.  Sometimes we wrapped a piece of fish meat with herbs/vegetables and cooked rice noodles on a rice sheet and dipped in a sauce. However you eat the fish it will be delicious!

Lightly-Fried Mackerel (serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 whole fish, clean and cut through the bones into 1-inch cross-sections
Pinches of salt
Pinches of freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil

Method:

1) Dry the fish slices. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on both sides.
2) Heat oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
3) Once the pan is hot add the fish. Cover with a splatter guard if you have any.  Cook each side about 4-5 minutes or until the outside is slightly crisp and the inside is cooked thoroughly.

*If you are not used to eating fish with bones then you might as well skip this recipe. However, if you are willing to give it a try, be careful of the small bones!
*You can slice the fish head in half and then fry it. You can serve the head.  Remember the head does have some good meat so don't waste it! If you find that sharing a meal with mini-jaws at the dinner table unappetizing then discard the head.

"gone fishing" with one of my nephews

my brother teaching his son to fish (summer 2013)

Chocorua Lake (NH)

ice fishing on Chocorua lake

*Fishing is a hobby for some people...no matter the season or the temperature.  Here in the Northeast some of us fish even when we have to drill a hole in the ice (to get to the water)!