Grilled Mackerel on a Charcoal Grill Rack
Aromatic, wholesome, very tasty, and juicy! Mackerel baked on a grill rack over charcoal will impress everyone with its flavor and satisfy even the most demanding gourmet. Follow all the recommendations, and you will definitely end up with an exceptionally delicious dish.
Updated : 21 May, 2026
Easy
About 1 hour.
Ingredients
250 grams
Mackerel
1
Lemon
to taste
Salt
70 milliliters
Vegetable oil
0.5 teaspoon
Hot pepper, ground
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How do you bake mackerel on a grill rack over charcoal? Prepare all the necessary ingredients. Use chilled fish, preferably larger in size. If you only have frozen fish, that is not a problem. You just need to thaw it properly: transfer the fish from the freezer to the refrigerator for about 7 hours, and only then finish thawing it at room temperature.
Step 2
Rinse the mackerel well, gut it, and be sure to remove the gills. If you leave them in, the fish will have a slightly bitter taste.
Step 3
Using a very sharp knife, make several diagonal cuts on the skin. This will help the fish marinate better and cook more evenly afterward.
Step 4
We only need lemon juice from the lemon for the marinade, so you can also use ready-made bottled lemon juice. If you squeeze the juice yourself, first rinse the lemon with very hot water so it releases more juice.
Step 5
Drizzle the fish with vegetable oil. It can be absolutely any kind, from budget-friendly sunflower oil to premium olive oil. But since the oil will be heated, it is best to use refined oils.
Step 6
Salt the fish.
Step 7
Add pepper. At this stage, you can also add other favorite spices and seasonings to the fish, such as herbes de Provence, dried or fresh thyme, or garlic.
Step 8
Leave the fish to marinate for a while, from 15 minutes up to 1 day.
Step 9
Meanwhile, light the fire in the grill. To prepare tasty and wholesome dishes, use good firewood for the coals, preferably birch.
Step 10
Wait until the wood burns down and only hot coals remain.
Step 11
Place the grill grate over the coals. Put the mackerel on it. The fish cooks fairly quickly, but turn it every 5-7 minutes. This way it will not burn and will cook evenly.
Step 12
You may need to repeat the turning process 2-3 times. In other words, keep doing this until the mackerel is fully cooked.
Step 13
That is it, our aromatic golden fish is ready. Enjoy your meal!
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