RECIPE: Salad nicoise with mackerel

Post in association with Princes

mackerel salad recipe

Take a minute if you will to think about a can of mackerel.

(Stay with me.)

What are you imagining? The classic old mackerel on toast at your Granny’s on a Sunday afternoon? Well, THINK AGAIN. It’s time to look at mackerel in a whole new light.

(Yes, this is my actual job.)

If you don’t have a stash of canned mackerel in your cupboard then you’re missing a massive trick. You know how you always have tins of beans and chopped tomatoes? Well mackerel should be like that – a store cupboard essential that you can grab for a quick and tasty lunch whenever you’re in a rush.

Princes mackerel in olive oil

You probably know that the recommendation is to eat two portions of fish a week, but how often do you manage it? Fish always feels like a faff to me, and the cooking smells seem to linger – if it doesn’t come frozen in a finger form then it doesn’t often feature on the menu in our house.

It doesn’t have to be this way guys.

Princes mackerel is a super easy way to get that much needed dose of omega 3 fatty acids, it’s skinless and boneless plus there’s no waste – it’s a fishy no-brainer! Move over boring old cheese sandwiches for lunch, it’s time to make way for my new creation, the salad nicoise with mackerel.

With this recipe I wanted to make something that’s quick and easy, but that has loads of flavour and general all round wholesomeness. There aren’t any ridiculous ingredients and the whole thing is ready in less than 15 minutes, so it’s ideal for when you want to throw a nutritious lunch together between shifts at the soft play centre, or for a simple supper when you finally get home from the seemingly endless round of after school tennis, gymnastics and badgers.

(Yes, badgers is a thing. Both of my girls did it for a while. It’s essentially St John Ambulance for kids, so cute little uniforms and useful sling making skills.)

salad nicoise with mackerel recipe

It looks good right?

Here’s what you need to make salad nicoise with mackerel for one person. (They’re rough quantities as you’ll know which bits you like better than others. Increase quantities obviously if you have a friend or loved one that you feel inclined to make lunch for.)

  • One can of Princes mackerel fillets in olive oil
  • A big handful of leftover cooked potatoes, or around half a small can of tinned new potatoes
  • One little gem lettuce
  • A handful of cherry tomatoes
  • A dozen or so black olives
  • A handful of green beans
  • One egg
  • The juice of half a lemon
  • A splosh of balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and pepper

Princes mackerel in olive oil

Now obviously I’ve taken a bit of care to lay mine out looking pretty, but it’s basically just mixing everything together and making a dressing.

Here’s what to do:

Top, tail and half the green beans and pop them in boiling water for five minutes or so until tender. Boil your egg for a similar length of time. You can do them in the same pan if you dislike washing up as much as me.

In the meantime, chop your potatoes, cut the end off your lettuce and quarter it length ways and half the tomatoes and olives. Make these look lovely on your plate.

Drain your mackerel and add it to your salad, but keep back the olive oil as you’re going to use this to make your dressing. (Waste not want not.) In a small bowl, add the lemon juice and vinegar to the olive oil and season to taste.

Mackerel salad recipe

Drain the green beans, peel your egg and quarter it length ways, and add both to your salad. Drizzle the whole lot with your mackerel infused vinegarette and Bob’s your uncle!

Honestly, that could hardly have been simpler could it? It’s absolutely bursting with flavour, and pretty darn good for your too. It’s a balance of carbs, protein, fresh vegetables and oily fish that should definitely keep you going through the PTA meeting.

Ha! Who am I kidding? I have more sense than to have ever joined the PTA.

You’re welcome for the recipe though.

Check out the whole range of Princes mackerel fillets and I guarantee there will be more varieties than you can name right now.

(And yes, that IS a challenge. Leave a comment and tell me how many mackerel varieties you guessed.)

Canned mackerel salad

 

Follow:

21 Comments

  1. Leila Benhamida
    26 February, 2018 / 10:30 pm

    Such a great idea adding Mackerel. So appetising.

  2. Abigail Cullen
    2 March, 2018 / 9:16 pm

    This meal looks stunning and really appetising.

  3. Caroline Hunter
    2 March, 2018 / 10:03 pm

    Looks lovely and fresh for a great lunchtime meal :)

  4. Sally hiller
    2 March, 2018 / 10:55 pm

    Like look of salad

  5. 2 March, 2018 / 11:11 pm

    I do not eat fish but the mustard one sounds like something hubby would eat. The dog likes the one in sunflower oil

  6. alice lightning
    3 March, 2018 / 12:52 am

    ooh looks so tasty

  7. Lesley Bambridge
    3 March, 2018 / 8:49 am

    A lovely recipe that I will be trying this week. Thank you

  8. Beccy Rowley
    3 March, 2018 / 9:25 am

    This meal looks delicious, I’m always looking for new meal ideas for my family and will give this a try.

  9. 3 March, 2018 / 7:44 pm

    Eating Healthier this year and this is Great!

  10. 3 March, 2018 / 8:12 pm

    Looks yummy thanks for sharing I can eat this on my diet plan

  11. 3 March, 2018 / 10:27 pm

    Would love this, good for you & tasty!

  12. Lorna Ledger
    5 March, 2018 / 2:38 pm

    I guessed 3! but there are 13, the Brazillian one sounds yum! all great with a salad or a jacket spud

  13. Stevie
    6 March, 2018 / 1:20 pm

    The dish looks lovely.

  14. Elizabeth Gaskell
    8 March, 2018 / 12:10 pm

    Making me hungry to look at it and its only 11.10am! Thanks for the competition, very generous prize.

  15. jo liddement
    16 March, 2018 / 3:59 pm

    Looks a lovely recipe. I’m lucky that my 11 year old son who is a fussy eater loves both tinned and fresh mackerel and keeping some tins in the cupboard makes a healthy and easy lunch to prepare.

  16. Pauline Burroughs
    16 March, 2018 / 10:00 pm

    This looks really tasty, I’ll definitely be trying it

  17. Jane Gorton
    16 March, 2018 / 11:59 pm

    I could just eat that now! I love fish x

  18. Kim W
    17 March, 2018 / 3:07 pm

    This looks lovely and very nutritious

  19. lorraine kirk
    17 March, 2018 / 8:13 pm

    That looks delicious, a great idea for a work pack-up too!

  20. Michelle Wild
    18 March, 2018 / 12:25 am

    Bet it’s got more bite than my usual tuna nicoise.

  21. 19 March, 2018 / 8:08 am

    It looks so yummy! I haven’t tried mixing mackerel in salads, but might as well try it soon! :)

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.