Best Canned Mackerel Recipe - Mackerel Meatballs

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: oats

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Oats provide a healthier option with more fiber.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: pecorino

Nutritional yeast is lower in calories and adds a cheesy flavor.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil is healthier while vegetable oil is more affordable.

mackerel

🥗Healthier: sardines

💰Cheaper: canned tuna

Sardines are rich in omega-3s while canned tuna is often less expensive.

Open the can of canned mackerel and pour it into a bowl, leaving the skin and bones intact as they are soft and edible.

Drain some liquid from the mackerel but leave some to keep the meatballs moist.

Crush the mackerel by hand to break it apart, including the bones.

Add ground salt and black pepper to the mackerel mixture.

Add smoked chili pepper for heat, if desired.

Incorporate fresh minced garlic, yellow onion, and green bell pepper into the mackerel mixture.

Add freshly grated Romano cheese or Parmesan cheese to the mixture to help hold the meatballs together.

Add 1 egg to the mixture and mix all ingredients together until well combined.

Form the mixture into small meatballs, about the size of ping pong balls, yielding approximately 13 meatballs from one can.

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs to the skillet and brown them on all sides for about 5-7 minutes, being gentle to avoid breaking them apart.

Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set them aside.

In the same skillet, add chopped yellow onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to sauté for about 4-5 minutes until softened.

Add one can of crushed tomatoes and one can of tomato sauce to the sautéed vegetables.

Stir in Italian seasonings and let the sauce simmer for about 20 minutes until thickened.

Add fresh chopped parsley to the sauce for flavor and color.

Gently add the meatballs back into the sauce, being careful not to break them apart, and stir to combine.

Serve the meatballs over rice or noodles.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens