So far, I've tasted and reviewed over a dozen tins of mackerel in various forms. Fillets, chunks, whole. Spiced, smoked, sauced, plain. Sometimes, I knew what I would find before I opened the can, Other times, for better or worse, I didn't. The carton description on this Matiz Wild Caught Mackerel was kind of vague, so let's see what I got.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
Nice looking fillets. I wasn't sure if I was getting fillets or whole fish. The carton didn't give as much as a hint one way or the other.
The can is packed reasonably full, although it's a little on the light side at only 3 oz. net weight. The EVOO has a nice golden/green hue. There was nothing in the way of a fish aroma I could detect. A sip of the oil was also neutral. I wasn't getting any of the notes I would have liked to from a good EVOO.
The meat was firm enough for the fillets to remain intact when gently stabbed with a fork. Yet they also flaked readily when prompted to do so.
Time To Eat
I decided to try this plain, in order to best assess the quality. I figured if I thought it needed something to help it along, I would decide that as I went.
The taste was mild with a hint of a tuna-like tang, but it wasn't a huge negative. The problem lay in the fact that it was a bit dry, even to the point of a little mealy, which I was not expecting. I also thought a little more salt would have been in order. It didn't seem to be the 310mg. the carton listed. Ultimately, I finished the can with no embellishments.
Final Thoughts
- The carton says the fish are sourced from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean Sea, then hand packed in Galicia. There was no indication on the carton or can as to which FAO fishing area this particular can's content was from.
- I think the carton oversells the fish, describing it as, "a rich, fatty fish, with a firm yet tender texture and mild, buttery flavor." I could only agree with a small part of that assessment.
- Looking back, I note there have been other mackerel fillets I apparently liked better. Several, most in fact, cost the same or less than this one. And in all cases, the net weight was at least one third higher.
Reasonably priced in lot quantities at Amazon.
Brand: Connorsa / Matiz
Description: Wild Caught Mackerel in EVOO
Species: Scomber sp.
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO N/S
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3 oz.
Price Range: $5-6