Description
This Easy Mediterranean Baked Mackerel Fish recipe combines the rich flavors of fresh herbs, zesty lemon, and sweet chili sauce with tender mackerel fillets. Baked alongside vibrant cherry tomatoes, olives, onion, and zucchini, it creates a wholesome and aromatic dish perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner that takes just 40 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish and Marinade
- 2 Fish fillets (mackerel)
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 4 Garlic cloves, minced
- 6 sprigs Thyme, chopped
- 3 sprigs Rosemary, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Oregano, dried
- 2 teaspoons Parsley, chopped or dried
- 1 teaspoon Basil, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Sweet chili sauce
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
Vegetables
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup Olives, pitted
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 1 Zucchini, diced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect baking temperature for the fish and vegetables.
- Prepare Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, oregano, parsley, basil (if using), lemon zest, lemon juice, sweet chili sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate Fish: Place the fish fillets in a baking dish and thoroughly coat them with the marinade mixture. Allow the fish to marinate for 15 minutes so the flavors infuse well.
- Add Vegetables: Arrange the cherry tomatoes, pitted olives, diced onion, and diced zucchini around the fish fillets in the baking dish, distributing them evenly.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and vegetables are tender.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh herbs if desired, then serve immediately for a delicious Mediterranean-style meal.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs whenever possible to maximize flavor, but dried herbs work well if fresh are unavailable.
- To keep the fish moist, do not overbake; check for doneness around 20 minutes.
- You can substitute mackerel with other firm white fish fillets if preferred.
- Serve with crusty bread or a side of couscous to soak up the flavorful juices.
- Adjust salt and spice levels based on your taste preferences.
