mackerel Archives - Page 2 of 3

Matiz Wild Caught Mackerel in EVOO

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

JOSÉ Gourmet Smoked Small Mackerel in Olive Oil

DeenLeave a comment

I chose this JOSÉ Gourmet Smoked Small Mackerel in Olive Oil as part of a recent online order not really knowing what I would get. There was no photo. The description didn't say fillets, but all the smoked mackerel I'd had before was either slices or chunks of fish. Perhaps "small" should have been a clue.

Initial impression upon opening the can: Oh, no...

OK, maybe that assessment was a little premature. The last whole small mackerel I had was not that impressive. Its seasonings were lackluster, and the loins of fish still had most of their fins.

Pressing on. The aroma and taste of a sip of the oil were both smoky, the latter quite distinctively. The carton doesn't specify method, but it was clearly derived from natural wood smoke. I want to say it was borderline acrid, but hoped it didn't translate to the fish that way.

Extracting a fish from the can, the skin is remarkably iridescent, shifting color from charcoal to gray to blue to bronze as it moves in the light. I know that's not really germane to the flavor, but interesting nonetheless. A bite of the fish is firm, but doesn't seem dry, at least not any drier than typical smoked fish.

Out onto rice, you can see they were substantial in size, even though described as small.

Trying to pierce them with a fork, they were resistant to being divided up into bites crosswise, but did readily split open along the spine.

Unfortunately, the smoke flavor was just strong enough to predominate, and by the end had become a little fatiguing on the palate. I also thought they might have benefited by a little more salt.

So far, I've been a fan of everything JOSÉ Gourmet I've tried, but this may be the exception. YMMV.

Main Takeways

Nice looking fish
Not as small as expected
Overly smoky

See it at Amazon.

Brand: 100 Misterios / JOSÉ Gourmet
Description: Smoked Small Mackerel in olive oil
Species: Scomber sp.
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $10

Da Morgada Portugese Mackerel

DeenLeave a comment

This Da Morgada Portugese Mackerel was purchased at the same time as some of their spiced sardines. I enjoy tinned mackerel, with some exceptions, and this one was attractively priced. I was concerned that "cavala" meant I might be getting whole horse mackerel again, but that fear was unfounded. This carton doesn't have the gold accents their sardine carton did, but the graphics are quite eye-catching.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

Five really nice looking fillets. A sip of the oil is neutral. The fillets are firm enough to be plucked from the can intact. Their texture is slightly al dente, with a mild flavor. I am again reminded that I tend to prefer mackerel over sub-premium tuna. The ingredients list salt, and I thought it might have benefited from a little more. But I didn't have any on hand. I tried a few drops of Valentina on a bite, but it wasn't the improvement I was looking for.

My overall impression was mixed. I've had other mackerel in this price range or even lower that I liked just as well if not more than this one.

I really need to find a way to use this type of mackerel in some kind of dish, perhaps as a substitute for tuna in a Nicoise salad.

Main Takeaways

Firm, tasty mackerel meat
Could have used a little more salt
Re-purchase uncertain

Brand: Da Morgada
Description: Portugese mackerel
Species: Scomber sp.
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5

Fishwife Slow Smoked Mackerel with Chili Flakes

DeenLeave a comment

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

Brand: Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co.
Description: Slow Smoked Mackerel with Chili Flakes
Species: Mackerel
Country of Origin: Scotland
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 3.7 oz.
Price Range: $9

Use code WELCOME10 for 10% off sitewide.

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Wild Planet Wild Mackerel in EVOO

DeenLeave a comment

I bought this Wild Planet Wild Mackerel Skinless & Boneless Fillets in Extra Virgin Olive Oil on sale for under $4 at Whole Foods, with an eye toward comparing it to their smoked mackerel.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Reasonably full packing of fish. Neutral aroma, fresh, not fishy. The EVOO is also neutral in flavor. As with most tinned mackerel, the meat is pale in color, firm in texture, but flakes readily.

Let's Eat

Not wanting to waste the EVOO, I poured most of what was left in the tin over the fish and rice. This would alleviate any impression of dryness that might be had.

The flavor of the fish is mild and pleasant enough to stand on its own. But, I'm always looking for different ways to spice things up. To that end I added, variously, a few dashes of Valentina for some mild heat, a spoon or two of MW Polar Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce, and a sprinkle of a Sriracha flavored furikake. All separately, of course. Of the three, I thought the garlic chili sauce, a taberu rayu style condiment, actually, best complemented the flavor of the mackerel.

A blurb on the carton calls mackerel a "plentiful, underutilized species', and I'd have to agree. I'm more satisfied with most of the cans of mackerel I try vs. half of the cans of tuna.

Main Takeaways

Generous portion
Mild flavor, maybe too mild
Priced well, better if on sale

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Wild Mackerel Skinless & Boneless Fillets in EVOO
Species: Scomber colias
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $5

Season Grilled Mackerel in Olive Oil

DeenLeave a comment

I have seen favorable reviews of this lately, and decided to give it my own assessment. This Season Grilled Mackerel in 100% Olive Oil is widely available, typically seen sold alongside other Season Brand tinned fish products in supermarkets and mass retailers.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

Tinned mackerel usually isn't very photogenic unless it's been neatly sliced before packing. Here we have three can-filling fillets, more like bars of fish. Better than the amorphous chunks of some more recent mackerel tastings, though. The aroma is pleasantly fishy, not off-putting. The oil has a clean, neutral taste. The grill marks are hard to discern if they're genuine or applied artificially.

The taste is reminiscent of a mild tuna. But the texture is more firm, meatier. If actually grilled, the process doesn't seem to have added anything in the way of flavor that one might expect. I applied a little Salsa Espinaler to add some seasoning, but was undecided as to whether it was an improvement.

The "new look" carton is chock full of information. Species, catch area, country of origin, nutrition facts are all there.

Overall, this was good. If you'd like a canned fish that's less fishy-tasting than inexpensive tuna at a reasonable price, mackerel is a choice worth investigating. For under $3, I'd buy it again.

Main Takeaways

Nice filets
Whether the grilling is genuine or added anything is uncertain
Refreshing alternative to tuna at a bargain price

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Season Brand, LLC
Description: Grilled Mackerel in 100% Olive Oil
Species: Scomber colias
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.375 oz.
Price Range: $3

Wild Planet Smoked Mackerel in EVOO

DeenLeave a comment

I found this Wild Planet Smoked Mackerel in Extra Virgin Olive Oil intriguing because it emphasized the "smoked" aspect. Not so many other tinned mackerels do, even though they might list smoke flavor on the container. Unsmoked, mackerel can be a buttery, rich, tender bite of fish. I wondered what a truly smoked iteration might taste like.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4/5.

What it lacks in visual appeal, however, it more than makes up for in taste. The contents are two fillets stacked, skin side down. A bit firmer than other mackerel tasted to date, but it's still acceptably tender.

The smoke flavor, naturally achieved, is forward, but not overpowering. I tried a couple of bites with just a few drops of Valentina hot sauce, and it made for an interesting flavor combination.

Recommended. I paid $5 at WF, but I see it's currently under $4 on sale for Amazon Prime members there.

The packaging lacks source information, other than to say "product of Latvia".

Main Takeaways

Good balance on the smoke
Firm but still tender enough
Good value, especially if on sale

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Wild Smoked Mackerel in EVOO
Species: Scomber japonicus or Scomber colias
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 3.9 oz.
Price Range: $5