Fishwife Slow Smoked Mackerel with Chili Flakes

I picked up this Fishwife Slow Smoked Mackerel on a recent run to World Market. Like many of you, I'm sure, I wonder if the quality of the contents lives up to the level of effort Fishwife puts into their packaging. Is it "all hat, no cattle", or was this mackerel worth $9 a can?

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but the appearance and aroma had my full attention. A sip of the oil was a preview of coming attractions. Smoky, with a dark, complex sweetness, and a little heat on the back end. I wanted this out over rice, as the carton suggests, but took a little nibble off of a corner first. The texture was what I expected of a slow smoked fish, al dente, kind of like the bark on barbecued pork.

The carton lists a modest 220 calories (drained), but if I'm eating it over rice, I'm dumping the whole thing.

There were three pieces, skin on, one a bit larger and thicker than the others which looked more like from the tail end. A thin layer of fat under the skin improved the mouth feel.

The sweetness, the carton says, comes from demerara sugar, that from the first pressing of the sugar cane. Its molasses content adds a layer of complexity.

Altogether, we have sweet, salty, savory and a mild heat providing a winning combination. Was it worth the $9? I think so.

Main Takeaways

• Amazing aroma
• Tantalizing flavor profile
• Fatty skin adds a decadent element