I bought these Sanniti Mackerel Fillets in Lemon Oil with Crushed Pepper on a bit of a whim from Amazon. Three cans of Scandinavian mackerel for $3.33 per can. The lemon pepper seasoning was intriguing, something I hadn't seen with mackerel before, so I threw caution to the wind. Let's see how I did.
The three pack comes as unmarked tins shrinkwrapped in opaque red plastic, with the particulars on an attached label. This mackerel is a product of Denmark.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.
I'm pleased to see these are fillets and not just a mass of mackerel meat. There's the cracked black pepper on top. A sip of the mostly clear oil (canola) gives hints of the pepper as well as a subtle note of lemon. There is no actual lemon in the tin, and the ingredients list the lemon oil last in the order.
Let's Eat
As I lift the fillets out of the tin, they are tender enough to want to break in two. There was some mackerel debris left in the bottom, and I tested it to get my first impression of the flavor. Well-coated in the oil, the lemon became more pronounced. I dumped the remaining fish and pepper-laden oil over everything.
Once I began to dig into the fillets is when the party really started. I have to say this is some of the most moist and tender mackerel I've had to date. The flavor is rich, mild, and what people must mean when they say fish is buttery. And it's making me very glad I have two more cans of it.
The heat of the rice let the lemon oil flavor bloom even more, and the amount of pepper was just right, overpowering neither the fish flavor nor the lemon.
Main Takeaways
- Moist and tender fish
- Subtle lemon and well-balanced pepper
- Mackerel fillets at an attractive price point
Brand: Sanniti, LLC
Description: Mackerel with lemon oil and crushed pepper
Species: Scomber scombrus
Country of Origin: Denmark
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.4 oz. (each)
Price Range: $3.33 (x3)