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    Home » Recipes » Dairy Free Recipes

    Smoked Mackerel Salad with Quinoa

    Author: Amy Fulwood | Published: Jun 28, 2020 | Modified: Jul 10, 2023

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    This smoked mackerel salad is packed with healthy ingredients like quinoa, beans and courgette. It makes the perfect summer lunch or dinner.

    This salad is summer in a bowl ☀️

    White platter of smoked mackerel salad on a marble surface
    Overhead shot of mackerel salad on a marble background

    I have always loved smoked mackerel, it adds the most amazing flavour to dishes and is such an easy ingredient to add to recipes for an extra kick. 

    I love it in loads of recipes including this mackerel pasta salad but I think it shines so well in a simple salad like this one with some of my favourite filling ingredients and a creamy dressing.

    I honestly can't imagine a more perfect situation than sitting in the sunshine eating a bowl of this salad, maybe with a glass of wine just to make it even more dreamy. 

    Close up of charred courgette slices
    Platter of mackerel and quinoa salad on a marble surface

    Why we love this recipe...

    It's a really easy recipe which just requires you to cook some quinoa, whisk together a dressing and griddle some courgette, then you're ready to toss everything together and eat.

    We also love how versatile this recipe is. If you're not a fan of smoked mackerel you could use grilled mackerel fillets or a tin of tuna. You could even leave out the mackerel altogether and still have a deliciously tasty salad.

    This is a lovely healthy recipe which is perfect for a summer lunch or dinner or as a side at a BBQ or picnic.

    This recipe is also naturally gluten and dairy free and can easily be made vegan by leaving out the mackerel.

    Quinoa, mackerel and courgette salad with a checked cloth
    Close up of quinoa and mackerel

    Ingredients

    Quinoa: This is cooked according to packet instructions then left to cool. You can easily replace with another grain if you prefer.

    Courgette: I like to thinly slice this lengthways and cook on a griddle pan until soft then season really well. Alternatively another green vegetable like asparagus would work amazingly.

    Smoked Mackerel: For a recipe like this go for the fresh stuff you can buy in the fridge section of supermarkets rather than tinned.

    White Beans: I went for haricot beans because I love the size and texture in this salad but any bean like butter or cannellini would also work.

    Aleppo Chilli Flakes: This is one of our favourite ingredients and we always have it on hand. If you can't get any then you could switch for regular chilli flakes but you'll need to reduce the amount quite a bit as aleppo chilli flakes are much milder. We buy ours from our local Turkish supermarket or I've linked some below.

    Dressing: This is a simple combination of tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and honey. It's the perfect combination of creamy, tangy sweetness.

    White platter of mackerel and quinoa salad on a marble surface with a checked cloth
    Close up of smoked mackerel with quinoa and courgette

    How to make it

    Cook the quinoa: Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions then fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.

    Griddle the courgette: Heat a griddle with a drizzle of olive oil and cook the courgette slices in batches until softened then season well. If you don't have a griddle pan you can use a frying pan, you just won't have the grill marks on the courgette.

    Make the dressing: Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients and season to taste. Put all of the salad ingredients in a bowl and drizzle with dressing, toss well and serve.

    Overhead shot of smoked mackerel and courgette on a marble background
    Close up of mackerel, quinoa and courgette

    Want more? Try these other salad recipes!

    • Winter Salad with Spicy Butternut Squash
    • Tuna Salad with Garlic Toasts
    • Roast Vegetable Salad with Halloumi
    • Cobb Salad with Pasta & Roasted Chickpeas
    • Orzo Pasta Salad with Salmon
    • Radish Salad

    Recipe

    Overhead shot of smoked mackerel and courgette on a marble background

    Smoked Mackerel Salad with Quinoa

    This smoked mackerel salad is packed with healthy ingredients like quinoa, beans and veggies. It makes the perfect summer lunch or dinner.
    4.43 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 451kcal
    Author: Amy Fulwood

    Ingredients

    • 200 g Quinoa
    • 1-2 Courgettes thinly sliced lengthways
    • Olive Oil
    • Salt and Pepper
    • 280 g Smoked Mackerel flaked
    • 1 400g tin White Beans drained and rinsed
    • 2 tablespoon Aleppo Chilli Flakes

    For the Dressing

    • 2 tablespoon Tahini
    • 1 Lemon juiced
    • 3-4 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • ½ teaspoon Honey
    • Salt and Pepper
    UK Measures - US Measures

    Instructions

    • Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions. Once cooked, drain and set aside to cool.
    • While the quinoa cooks heat a griddle pan with a drizzle of oil and griddle the courgette slices in batches for a couple of minutes on each side until softened. Season well.
    • Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients and season well.
    • Put the quinoa, mackerel, beans, chilli flakes and courgette in a large bowl and toss together. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss again then tip out onto a serving platter and serve.
    Nutrition Facts
    Smoked Mackerel Salad with Quinoa
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 451 Calories from Fat 207
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 23g35%
    Saturated Fat 4g20%
    Cholesterol 33mg11%
    Sodium 70mg3%
    Potassium 765mg22%
    Carbohydrates 39g13%
    Fiber 5g20%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 23g46%
    Vitamin A 141IU3%
    Vitamin C 25mg30%
    Calcium 65mg7%
    Iron 4mg22%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
     
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @amycookreport on Instagram and hashtag it #thecookreport!

    Like the look of this recipe? Make sure you pin it for later!

    Pinterest image for smoked mackerel salad with text overlay

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    Comments

    1. Tawnie Kroll says

      June 28, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      This was so flavorful and just what I needed on a hot summer day - thank you!

      Reply
    2. Kushigalu says

      June 28, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect salad recipe to try this summer. So flavorful and delicious

      Reply
    3. Cyndy says

      June 28, 2020 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      I love a salad that can be a full meal and this one has it all - so much protein but also beautiful green zucchini from my garden. Thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply
    4. Liz says

      June 28, 2020 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      I've been trying to get my husband to eat more quinoa and he loves seafood so this recipe is perfect! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Lisa Huff says

      June 28, 2020 at 4:59 pm

      How sad is it that I've never made mackerel?! Looks like the perfect recipe to give it a try!

      Reply
    4.43 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Photo of Amy in a red jumper wearing glasses

    Hey, I'm Amy Fulwood!

    Recipe creator and photographer here at TheCookReport.co.uk.

    Over here we’re all about delicious healthy recipes to fit around busy schedules and celebrating the joy that comes from an amazing meal.

    About Me

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