This King Oscar Mackerel Mediterranean Style came from Walmart. The tinned fish selection there of late has been rather abysmal, Whether that's due to seasonality or tariffs, I don't know. I typically find King Oscar product satisfactory, so trying this one seemed like a safe choice.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
The aroma of the seasonings hits you immediately. The scent of olives and herbes de Provence wafting over the smell of fresh mackerel.
A sip of the olive oil mirrors the aroma, the tin indicating the contents include both olive oil and EVOO. One of those, however, may just be what the olives came packed in.. The tin doesn't make a point of boasting about it.
Let's Eat
King Oscar mackerel is usually chunks of filet, not whole ones, and this tin is no exception. That's OK, it's the flavor that matters.
I dumped the contents, oil and all, over rice. It didn't end up being the most photogenic presentation. You can see the green and black olives, the flecks of red bell pepper, and a spatter of the herbs. This is boneless and skinless, so no issues there.
I found the olives to be the predominant flavor, but they didn't overpower the fish. The red bell pepper didn't bring much to the party, but the herbes de Provence showed up just enough to complement everything else without getting in the way of enjoying the intrinsic flavor of the fish. Good tinned mackerel is tender and buttery mild in flavor, and this KO is no exception.
Sodium hovers around average at 430mg. but it seemed like less. Perhaps the olives are to blame.
Main Takeways
- Tender, mild flavor
- Well-balanced seasonings
Brand: Tri-Union Seafoods / King Oscar
Description: Boneless skinless mackerel filet Mediterranean style
Species: North Atlantic mackerel
Country of Origin: Poland
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $3-4