Savory Mackerel Pasta: A Delightful Home Party Dish
Home Party Essential: Delicious Mackerel Pasta Made with Fresh Korean Mackerel
Don’t just think of grilled mackerel as a typical Korean side dish! If you have fresh mackerel, you absolutely must try it as a pasta ingredient. Its fresh, delicate flavor pairs surprisingly well with pasta.
Pasta Ingredients
- Spaghetti noodles, 80-100 grams
- Coarse salt, 1/2 Tbsp (for boiling pasta)
- Olive oil, 1 Tbsp (for sautéing)
- Onion, 1/2 (finely chopped)
- Minced garlic, 1 Tbsp
- Dried chili peppers, about 5 (adjust to spice preference)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Fish sauce (like anchovy sauce), 1-2 Tbsp (for umami)
Mackerel Preparation
- Fresh mackerel, 1 whole fish
- Herbs, a pinch (e.g., rosemary, thyme)
- Rice wine or cooking sake, 2 Tbsp
- Olive oil, 1 Tbsp
- Ground pepper, a pinch
- Fresh mackerel, 1 whole fish
- Herbs, a pinch (e.g., rosemary, thyme)
- Rice wine or cooking sake, 2 Tbsp
- Olive oil, 1 Tbsp
- Ground pepper, a pinch
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the fresh mackerel: Unlike salted mackerel, use fresh mackerel. Trim off the head, tail, and fins. Remove the large bones, then meticulously remove any small pin bones. Rinse thoroughly under cold water and pat dry.
Step 2
Marinate the mackerel: Pour the rice wine (or cooking sake) over the prepared mackerel to remove any fishy odor. Then, rub it with salt, pepper, dried herbs, and olive oil. Let it marinate for a short while.
Step 3
Boil pasta & Grill mackerel: Bring a large pot of water to a boil with coarse salt. Cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking, grill or pan-sear the marinated mackerel until golden brown. (Be cautious of oil splattering!)
Step 4
Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a separate pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and dried chili peppers. Sauté until fragrant, stirring gently. If you prefer more heat, you can add extra dried chili peppers.
Step 5
Combine pasta and sauce: Once the spaghetti is cooked al dente (about 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions), transfer it to the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Add 1-2 Tbsp of the pasta cooking water and stir-fry quickly to coat the noodles with the sauce. Season with fish sauce to taste. (Alternatively, you can use salt or oyster sauce for seasoning.)
Step 6
Second sear for mackerel: For an even better finish, transfer the mackerel that was initially grilled or pan-seared to a pan. Sear it one more time until the skin is nice and crispy.
Step 7
Flake the mackerel: Carefully remove the flaky flesh from the mackerel, avoiding the larger bones. Ensure you don’t break the delicate pieces of fish as you flake it.
Step 8
Plate the pasta: Arrange the saucy spaghetti attractively on a serving plate.
Step 9
Top with mackerel & Garnish: Generously place the flaked mackerel pieces on top of the pasta. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of dried herbs for a beautiful and flavorful Mackerel Pasta.
