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Smoked Mackerel Kedgeree with Leeks

Easy smoked mackerel kedgeree, a twist on a classic British Indian rice recipe, traditionally a breakfast dish, it is also great for dinner!

Alongside smoked mackerel and rice, this recipe is loaded with leeks, sweet peas and topped with a beautiful jammy boiled egg.

Easy smoked mackerel kedgeree with leeks, peas topped and a boiled egg.

British Indian Breakfast Rice

Smoked mackerel is no stranger to these pages, mackerel is my favourite fish and smoked mackerel is simply glorious.

It is so diverse! I use it in dishes like smoked mackerel risotto, smoked mackerel pasta tossed through a simple smoked mackerel salad an even in a smoked mackerel potato frittata.

Here it gets an Indian vibe in a take on a classic kedgeree recipe.

Typically smoked haddock would have been the key ingredient, but I’ve fallen in love with smoked mackerel kedgeree in recent years.

It was originally driven by availability and cost but the rich oily flavour is now the reason this is now the way that I choose to make my kedgeree.

Thought to be a British Raj adaptation of kitchari or kichidi a rice and lentil recipe from India.

Legend has it that it was ‘created’ by a Scottish regiment in India who added their smoked haddock rations to the local dish but as with all food origin stories, the details are unclear!

It was then bought back to the UK and embraced by the Victorians who loved curry.

Overhead easy smoked mackerel kedgeree with leeks, peas topped and a boiled egg.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the type of rice important?

Yes! Just like a classic Indian Biryani this recipe needs basmati rice, nothing else will really do.

What sort of smoked mackerel should I use?

Anything you can get your hands on is fine. It is typically sold as a whole fish or as fillets and sometimes those fillets are seasoned with pepper and spices.

They all work just as well, fillets are a little easier to flake up. But the whole fish is typically cheaper and if your time is that valuable go for it.

As for the peppered fillets, feel free to use them, although I tend to find the flavours get lost in this recipe.

Can kedgeree be cooked in advance?

Yes! In fact, as with many Indian dishes, they taste better on day two.

To reheat, place in a wide-based pan with a lid and drop it in a moderate oven at 170°C or 340°F for 25 minutes or until piping hot.

This gives you plenty of time to cook some fresh, jammy boiled eggs.

Close-up smoked mackerel kedgeree with leeks, peas topped and a boiled egg.

Serving Suggestions

This dish stands alone and I’m more than happy to scoff a big bowl as it stands.

That does not mean that there are not little flourishes that can be added.

My favourite is a cucumber and mint raita, it matches so well with the flavours.

It also works really well with a nice fresh kachumber salad. If you really want to go to town you should cook up some poppadoms.

Anglo Indian smoked mackerel kedgeree with leeks and peas topped with a boiled egg.

Equipment Used

I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

  • Stovetop.
  • 15cm or 6″ saucepan.
  • 28cm or 11″ frying pan or skillet with a lid but you could improvise a lid with some tin foil if needed.
  • Kettle.
  • Bowl for soaking the smoked mackerel.
  • Chopping board.
  • Kitchen knife.
  • Weighing scales and or measuring jug, cups and spoons.
Anglo Indian smoked mackerel kedgeree with leeks and peas topped with a boiled egg.
Yield: 2 Servings

Skillet Smoked Mackerel Kedgeree

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Kedgeree is an Anglo Indian dish traditionally made with smoked haddock my version uses smoked mackerel and is chock full of British Indian flavours!

Ingredients

  • 175g (6oz) Smoked Mackerel Fillets
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 Tsp Cooking Oil
  • 1 Tsp Cumin Seeds
  • ½ Tsp Fennel Seeds
  • ½ Tsp Brown Mustard Seeds
  • ¼ Tsp Asafoetida
  • 6 Curry Leaves
  • 75g (½ Cup) Onion
  • 50g (⅓ Cup) Carrot
  • 35g (¼ Cup) Celery
  • 100g (¾-1 Cup) Leek
  • 2 Cloves Garlic
  • 6 Cardamom Pods
  • 1 Tbsp Dried Fenugreek Leaves
  • ½ Tsp Turmeric
  • ½ Tsp Ground Coriander
  • ½ Tsp Kashmiri Chili Powder
  • ½ Tsp Salt
  • ½ Tsp Black Pepper
  • 125g (⅔ Cup) Basmati Rice
  • 1 Tsp Lemon Juice
  • 150g (1 Cup) Peas

Instructions

  1. Begin by pouring 500ml (2 Cups) of boiling water over the smoked mackerel fillets and set aside.
  2. Bring a 15cm or 6" saucepan of water to a boil and boil the eggs for 7 minutes before rinsing in cold water and setting aside.
  3. Cut the onion, celery and carrot into a 2-3mm (⅛") dice.
  4. Peel and slice the garlic cloves as finely as you can.
  5. Clean and cut the leek into 1cm (½") thick rounds.
  6. Heat a 28cm or 11" frying pan or skillet over a medium-high heat and add the cooking oil.
  7. Add the cumin, fennel, mustard seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves then stir for 30 seconds.
  8. Now add in the onion, celery carrot and leek and cook for 8-10 minutes stirring occasionally.
  9. Stir in the garlic and cook for a further minute.
  10. Add the cardamom pods, fenugreek seeds turmeric, coriander, chilli powder, salt, and pepper followed by the rice.
  11. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.
  12. Drain the water from the mackerel fillets and pour enough over the rice so that it covers it by around 3-5mm (1/8"-1/4") and stir in the leeks.
  13. Reduce the heat to low add a lid and then cook for 15 minutes. Test the rice and you want it to be nearly cooked but not fully.
  14. Flake the mackerel fillets.
  15. Remove the lid and stir through the peas (defrosted if frozen) and lemon juice.
  16. Add the flaked mackerel to the top of the pan and return the lid, turn off the heat and allow to steam for 5-10 minutes.
  17. Finally, shell the eggs, cut them in half and serve them on your kedgeree.

Notes

The eggs for this dish are boiled from room temperature, if you are boiling them from the fridge add an extra 30-45 seconds.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 551Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 252mgSodium: 804mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 9gSugar: 9gProtein: 36g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Olivia

Friday 16th of February 2018

What a gorgeous presentation! This would be an amazing thing to make for guests- looks super impressive! :)

Brian Jones

Sunday 18th of February 2018

Thanks Olivia.

Patty

Friday 16th of February 2018

I love all the ingredients in this recipe, such a delicious dish, adding it to my meal plan!

Brian Jones

Sunday 18th of February 2018

Thanks Patty.

Linda @ With A Blast

Friday 16th of February 2018

We grew up having Kedgeree for breakfast, but I make it for dinner as well. Love your recipe and will try it soon (pinned :-) ) !

Brian Jones

Sunday 18th of February 2018

Thanks Linda... Enjoy!

Sia

Friday 16th of February 2018

I am so happy to find a good kedgeree recipe that doesn't use curry powder, my nemesis! LOL... Loving all the spices you have used here, especially the unassuming Kasuri Methi/dried fenugreek leaves which packs so much flavour! Your photos are beautiful.

Brian Jones

Sunday 18th of February 2018

Thanks Sia.

Adriana Lopez Martin

Friday 16th of February 2018

What a great idea fantastic dish for lent season too. I enjoy mackerel great fish option and the combination of everything looks so colorful. Love eating colorful foods.

Brian Jones

Sunday 18th of February 2018

Me too, thanks Adriana

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