Smoked Mackerel Salad with Apple and Bacon
Smoked mackerel salad, a quick and easy light main course salad featuring sweet and salty bacon offset by the sweet tartness of apple.
The salad dressing features reduced apple juice and ginger, which provides a bright and zingy complement to the salty mackerel.
Warm Mackerel Salad
I adore mackerel; it is one of those ingredients that I return to over and over again. It is one of the cheapest fish that you can buy; it is nutritious and tastes divine.
My 13 years living in landlocked Hungary starved me of fresh mackerel but gave me a love of smoked mackerel. You should definitely check out my devilled mackerel fillets, though!
It is commonly associated with smoked mackerel pate, but it has way more uses than just that!
It is just as good in an Anglo Indian smoked mackerel kedgeree as it is in a simple smoked mackerel pasta. If you are still on the fence, then you must try my really rather foxy smoked mackerel risotto or this smoked mackerel potato frittata!
This Smoked Mackerel Salad with Apple and Bacon is nothing more than a few good things that really work well together.
Apple and mackerel are a classic combination, and bacon makes everything better. The ginger in the dressing helps cut through the richness of the smoked mackerel.
Finally, reducing the apple juice to a syrup for the dressing elevates the whole dish. As with so many recipes, it is the little dishes that really push them over the top!
If these flavours are your mojo, then you must check out my sausage salad, which has a similar flavour profile! And if you like the idea of fish in a salad, check out my cod salad recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use peppered mackerel?
Yes, it will work well in this dish, although I personally prefer a cleaner flavour in this salad.
What salad leaves work well?
This salad is pictured with lambs lettuce, but peppery leaves also work well. Rocket or arugula and watercress are both fantastic in this recipe.
What is streaky bacon?
This is a question I am often asked by my American readers. Streaky bacon is what you guys refer to as bacon; here in the UK, bacon typically means back bacon or Canadian bacon, as you call it.
Should I use smoked bacon?
You can, although I personally prefer non-smoked bacon in this recipe.
What is rapeseed oil?
Another question often asked by US readers, which is known as canola oil in the US. I like it in this dish because it has a very mild flavour; olive oil overpowers in this recipe, as far as I am concerned.
Serving Suggestions
This smoked mackerel salad is the perfect light meal for me, and it needs little else.
However, if you wanted to make a more substantial meal, adding eggs is a nice way of bulking out this dish.
A poached egg is my favourite addition; however, you do need to ensure that your egg is fresh. Crack the egg onto a plate, and if the egg white is watery, it will not make a good poached egg!
But fear not, if that happens, you can make a fried egg, which will also work really well. Either way, keep that yolk nice and runny to add an extra silky sauce!
One final suggestion would be to add some cooked cold rice, either black rice or wild rice, which makes an excellent addition to this salad.
Equipment Used
I only mention brands of equipment if I believe 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.
- Hob/stovetop.
- Grill or broiler.
- Baking tray.
- Frying pan.
- Small (15cm or 6") saucepan.
- Grater.
- Mixing bowl.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen knife.
- A combination of weighing scales, measuring cups and spoons.
Smoked Mackerel Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 300 g Smoked Mackerel Fillet 4 Fillets
- 5-6 Rashers Streaky Bacon 100g
- 40 g Bread 1-2 Slices
- 1 Small-Medium Echalion or Banana Shallot 35g
- 30 g Ginger 1 thumb sized piece
- 150 ml Apple Juice ½ Cup + 2 tablespoon
- 50 ml Rapeseed Oil 3 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon (Canola oil in the US)
- 1 Handful Salad Leaves (I use lambs lettuce)
- 1 Apple
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into batons.
- Dice the bread into 1cm (just under ½") cubes.
- Peel and then finely slice the shallot into rings.
- Peel and grate the ginger.
- Peel and core the apple, then slice it into wedges.
- Take 50ml of the apple juice and add half of the grated ginger, then pour this over the apple and set aside.
- In a small pan, add the remaining 100ml of apple juice and remaining ginger and boil over a medium-high heat until reduced to 25ml (2 Tablespoons).
- Take the reduced apple and ginger syrup and pass it through a sieve to remove the ginger. Whisk the syrup with the rapeseed oil, add salt to season to taste, and the shallot rings and set aside; this will be the dressing.
- Fry off the bacon and croutons until crispy and golden; this will take 5-7 minutes.
- Place the mackerel fillets under a hot grill or broiler and heat just a little; you don't want to cook them, but soften the fats in the mackerel. Then break up the smoked mackerel into a bowl, discarding the skin.
- Place everything else in the bowl except the salad leaves, pour over the dressing and toss to coat. Then add the salad leaves and toss once more before serving.
This is an amazing salad! With a rich taste of sweetness, sharp, salty, fresh! When I say that I will make this salad, my family is not happy with this information. But when it is on the table, it instantly disappears! I've done this 10 times already! It's in my salad book. Thank you for the recipe!
You are more than welcome Alexandr, so glad you enjoy it, I adore smoked mackerel.
This is totally delicious, no changes just perfect as is. Served it with fries. A real winner!
Thanks Ann, so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Oh man! This is so up my alley. I grew up eating smoked mackrel and love it! I wish my husband was on the same page 🙂
My gosh, my husband loves smoked mackerel, though I admit I am less fond myself. I think this salad would win me over though!
I have never had smoked mackerel but I am huge fan of smoked fish! I'll have to see if I can find some here as this salad looks fantastic!
I am loving all the flavours in your salad, especially the apple ginger dressing. With salads like this, I think I'd be okay to eat my greens everyday - probably multiple times a day too! haha! 🙂
I love this salad! I have been looking for a new salad to try!
This salad looks so delicious! Not sure if I can find smoked mackerel here in the Midwest, U.S. but i'm certainly going to look for it. I might get lucky!
Goo luck with your hunt Lisa, it also works well with other smoked fish.
I love a good salad. I too dodged them for years because I ate too many of them as I was a vegetarian. But, since I no longer had to eat salads, I enjoy them again. Funny how that happens. I adore mackerel but I've never put it on my salad. But I will now! I can't wait to make your delightful salad! Gorgeous photos, as usual, Brian!
Thanks Elaine... It does seem that it is very easy to fall out of love with tasty stuff when you have to eat it all of the time.
I think mackerel is a great fish but we are split in our household. 2 mackerel lovers and 2 mackerel avoiders so I don't eat it as often as I'd like. I think this salad sounds delicious and it's a great way to serve the mackerel.
Oooo throw out those haters, there is no time for that kind of negativity 😉
I wished I could claim the idea 😀
Cheers Mark, I think I have worked out that salad can be a great meal but it can also be the laziest way to throw a load of unrelated 'healthy' stuff on a plate and be dull 😉
Hehheee, now don't hate on me, but I think I have worms... It does not really matter what I eat, or more pertinently drink, my weight rarely varies all that much 😮 A salad really must be a meal though, I was bought up on some vague notion that a random collection of ingredients that were cut up and you helped yourself was a meal, it wasn't, fortunately it was a rarity 😉
I miss fresh fish too! I actually grew up in a coastal area with restaurants that would literally serve "catch of the day", and it was amazing. I'm a mere 3-4 hours inland right now and it's not the same, most likely because this area in the US is very "meat and potatoes". This salad sounds really interesting though, I imagine with the sweet mango and the mackerel it would have the kind of sweet/salty/sour flavor combination in something like a Thai green mango salad, only totally different of course. It makes sense in my head.
Love the fact that you nailed my influence, it is a fair old stretch but it really does work... I'm not sure it would with straight up fresh Mackerel but with smoked it is glorious.
Despite living at least 1000km inland all of our local restaurants serve catch of the day, we have a fairly large lake very close but carp and pike leaves me cold, the catfish is good though but still not a patch on good sea fish 🙁
Mackerel is my faaaavorite! Stinks that you can't get it fresh, but honestly I looove the smoked stuff too!
I miss it so much, I do love smoked too but fresh outta the sea with a load of salt and lemon cooked on an open fire is my idea of heaven!
I don't think I've ever even had mackerel, but I am a huge fish fan (obviously...), so I've gotta try it soon. You've made this salad look absolutely perfect, and I know it tastes just THAT good.
You must put that right, I think mackerel is possibly my favourite fish, in fact I would probably say mackerel fresh from the sea cooked on an open fire would be my 'last meal' if I ever had such a luxury... Remind me why I moved to a land locked country again?
I'm a total salad fan Brian - I think I could eat them everyday lol 🙂 And this one looks fantastic! I'm wondering if I could substitute another fish type in? I ask because I don't think I've seen fresh mackerel in our local markets here?
Hmmmm, that's a real tough one question that I am struggling to answer to be honest with you. This is made with smoked mackerel which is massively rich in flavour and richness, I think kippers or eel would be very similar, but apart from that it is straying from what I know would definitely work.
love this, Brian. drooling.
Hehe, thanks Christine... Long time no hear, I hope you are well 🙂
I tried mackerel once -- it was canned. The smell alone made me bag the can and toss it out. I bet fresh or smoked mackerel is another kettle of fish. I really enjoy smoked fish and I bet the salad is delicious. The Asian touch is just the right flavor for the salad. Eat your veggies -- they're good for you 😉
Haha, canned fish can be a bit 'pongy' 😉 I'm a huge eater of my veggies, usually just not in a salad 😀
I've never tried mackerel before and your description as cheap and oily is really peaking my interest. Some of the best burgers and tacos can be described that way!
In the UK it was the cheapest fish you could buy until Michelin Star chefs started putting it on the menu, still very affordable and glorious!
Lovely looking salad!! I love the lime mango combination and I bet it goes great with smoked mackerel as well.
It certainly works for me 😀