Baked mackerel in puff pastry
3 servings
45 minutes
Baked mackerel in puff pastry is a refined dish of European cuisine that embodies the idea of a harmonious combination of fish and crispy dough. Mackerel, known for its rich flavor and tender texture, gains even more depth from the aromatic filling of caramelized onions and carrots. The light acidity of lemon juice enhances the freshness of the fish, while the golden crust of the pastry adorned with sesame adds crunch and aesthetic perfection. This recipe is perfect for special occasions and holidays, impressing guests with its appearance and exquisite taste. Served hot alongside a fresh salad or yogurt-based sauce, the finished dish not only pleases the eye but also allows one to enjoy a wealth of flavor nuances, making dinner a true gastronomic delight.
1
First, take two small mackerels, clean them from the insides, cut off the head, and carefully remove the spine by slicing it along its length (if any small bones remain).
- Mackerel: 2 pieces
2
Clean the onion and carrot. Cut the onion in half and chop finely. Grate the carrot on a coarse grater. Sauté the ingredients in butter until soft, then add salt and pepper.
- Onion: 1 piece
- Carrot: 1 piece
- Butter: 30 g
- Salt: to taste
- Ground black pepper: to taste
3
Take thawed puff pastry, place it on a floured surface, and divide it into two rectangles (size depends on the fish size). Place the fish in the center of the rectangle and make cuts on both sides of the puff pastry from the fish fillet to the edges of the rectangle. The distance from the fish to the edges should be about 5 cm. The cuts should be uneven, resembling a clock hand pointing at 4. Then drizzle lemon juice over the fish, season with salt, and add a filling of sautéed onions and carrots inside. Next, form a braid from the puff pastry by folding down from the top alternately starting with right strips then left (if some fish is visible it's okay). Continue this until you reach the tail. Shape the tail; you can trim it with a knife for aesthetics.
- Puff pastry: 250 g
- Lemon juice: to taste
- Salt: to taste
- Onion: 1 piece
- Carrot: 1 piece
4
Sprinkle everything with sesame and place in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. In the last 5 minutes, you can turn on the grill function and increase the temperature to 200 degrees.
- Sesame: to taste