Cooked mackerel fillets with a thin mustard crust and chopped parsley
Everyday cooking Recipe

Air fryer mackerel with lemon

Air fryer mackerel with mustard, lemon and parsley. Check fresh raw fillets for bones and cook skin side down in a suitable shallow dish.

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Total time 25 min
Calories 254 kcal
Servings 2 servings
Difficulty Easy
By the Published Editorially approved

Why this recipe works

Fresh mackerel is not smoked fish

For two raw deboned skin-on fillets. Smoked or canned mackerel needs a different method. Keep fish reliably chilled until cooking; sides are not included.

Air Fryer Recipes Fish

Recipe

Air fryer mackerel with lemon

Air fryer mackerel with mustard, lemon and parsley. Check fresh raw fillets for bones and cook skin side down in a suitable shallow dish.

Ingredients

2 servings

Method

  1. 1

    Prepare

    Check fillets carefully for bones and pat dry. Lightly oil dish and place fish skin side down.

  2. 2

    Mix and season

    Mix mustard with salt and pepper and spread thinly on flesh. Reserve lemon juice and parsley for after cooking.

  3. 3

    Cook

    If required by the manufacturer, preheat for 3 minutes at 180 °C. Cook without overlapping about 12 minutes at 180 °C. Check the thick centre; inspect thin ends sooner and swap positions if needed. Use a heatproof dish suitable for the appliance, leaving space around it for airflow. Do not preheat with loose paper. Check that the thickest part reaches at least 70 °C for 2 minutes; continue cooking if needed.

  4. 4

    Check and serve

    Lift out with a wide spatula and add lemon juice and parsley. Fish should be opaque and fully cooked inside.

Kitchen know-how

Tips for Air fryer mackerel with lemon

What matters

Mackerel is perishable: maintain refrigeration and do not marinate at room temperature.

Serving guidance

Plan potatoes or bread separately; mustard coating is included.

Variations

How to adapt this recipe

Add dill instead of parsley after cooking.

Use less mustard for a milder topping.

Nutrition per serving

254kcal
0.3 gCarbohydrates
28.3 gProtein
15.3 gFat

Values are estimates per serving and may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, portion size and preparation method used.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ about Air fryer mackerel with lemon

Not unchanged, because it is already processed and often heavily salted.

In this shallow dish leave skin side down so they do not break.

No. Do not try to rescue fish with an interrupted cold chain by cooking longer.

It keeps the surface less wet and the fresh acidity clearer.

Keep cooking

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