MACKEREL PATE
In an effort to make an almost-traditional Christmas dinner for an episode of The One Show, here’s a seafood starter. Have more, if you want bigger portions – but save some room for dinner and dessert!
Ingredients: serves 8 as a starter
220g Mackerel
100g cream cheese
100g butter
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp black pepper
200g fresh spinach
1 small loaf fresh baked bread – I used the ‘giraffe’ bread for a change, and it was delicious!
First remove the skin from the mackerel, it should peel off easily with your fingers, and discard. Put the fish into a large mixing bowl, and break up into flakes with a fork or wooden spoon and some elbow grease. Pick out any bones you can see – but small pin-bones are usually fine.
Melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds in a heatproof dish, and pour on top of the flaked mackerel. Add cream cheese, pepper and lemon juice and beat well to combine. I added a handful of chopped parsley from my window ledge for colour, it’s not essential.
Press into a lightly greased tin (I find an old butter tub a good size for making pâté!) and chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
To serve, cut up the bread (some like it toasted but I like mine soft and fresh) and pop in a bowl in the centre for people to help themselves. Pop a handful of spinach on a plate, turn out the pate, slice, and place on top. Garnish with extra lemon and pepper if you want to make it look pretty!
Jack Monroe. Twitter: @msjackmonroe
Categories: A CHEAPER LITTLE CHRISTMAS, FISH, Recipes & Food, SNACKS & TREATS
I’m more likely to make mushroom pate than mackerel pate these days, but so far as flavourful and frugal non-veg options are concerned mackerel really delivers.
Can’t say as I’ve heard of giraffe bread before though, wots that!?
It’s tiger bread, but some supermarkets have changed it to giraffe bread as the crust has the similar pattern as a giraffe!
i’ve been making beef/lamb liver pate. very easy, very nice , very nutritious.
is this made with raw mackerel then, or precooked?
This is Smoked mackerel
it didn’t say that anywhere.
When will you be on the One Show?, I want to set my recorder.
I make a ‘skinny’ version using a tub of Quark cheese ( and no butter). A sprinkling of cayenne pepper in the mix gives it a little kick.
Excellent, I’ve been looking for a mackerel pate recipe, thank you!
lovely recipe Jack….I like to add a teaspoon of horseradish to my mackerel pate …it gives it an extra “zing”…but only.if you like horseradish of course!
I leave out the butter and add1 tbs horseradish sauce. A little chopped onion is good too.
Yummy pate will make this as my favourite fish, when is the programme?
I use plain yoghurt in my mackerel pate as I generally have that open in the fridge, save buying cream cheese specially and getting left with half a tub. Works well for a quick lunch though this is a thicker texture than mine, which wouldn’t slice.
This was delicious and so quick to make! I left out the butter and added a dollop of Sainsburys Dill mustard instead. If serving as a starter don’t have too much as it’s so filling and moreish you might forget the other courses! It will make a lovely supper dish too with a baked spud. Yummy.
Would be really nice with brown soda bread…
I’ve just made this for lunch – and it was scrummy. Just thinking would it freeze though? Just in case it was just me… I’m not sure I could eat it 3 days running 😉