PEPPERED MACKEREL a la NICOISE, Quick & Easy

A favourite quick & easy meal with peppered smoked mackerel 

Smoked Mackerel, a la Nicoise, with Rice, Mushrooms, Green Beans & Egg

A Nicoise salad usually means summer and cooked potatoes, green beans, eggs and olives with chicken or fish.  In this recipe, 67 uses Nicoise ingredients with different carbs and, indeed, a different type of fish, making use of M&S's 3 for £7 offers on specialty fillets of smoked mackerel.   

This variation involves cooked rice but pasta and potatoes work equally well.  It can be served warm but also makes into a tasty portable lunch with a balsamic vinaigrette.  Olives are optional but the mackerel contains enough salt.

Cost: £3.50
Serves: 2-3

Ingred:
   150-300 gms peppered mackerel
   8-12 ounces cooked rice
   180 gms green beans
   2 hard boiled eggs
   a handful of mushrooms, thinly sliced
   lemon
   olives (opt)

Method:

1. Cook green beans in lightly salted boiling water 3 mins; drain and plunge into very cold or ice water
2. Peel and vertically halve boiled eggs (to avoid sulphur ring, see tips below)
3. Remove skin & bones from mackerel; flake into generous shards
4. If having this warm, steam or stir-fry the rice
5. If making salad, add enough balsamic vinaigrette to rice to moisten but not overwhelm
6. Gently stir in green beans and mushrooms
7. Add smoked mackerel
8. Garnish with egg and lemon 

Balsamic Vinaigrette

   6-8 tbsp good olive oil

   2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

   good pinch sate & 1/4 tsp pepper

   2 rounded tsp wholegrain mustard

   1/2 tsp sugar, honey or maple syrup (opt)

Pour into a jar with a close-fitting screw-top lid; shake vigorously

Tips:
Foolproof hard boiled eggs without sulphur ring: Place eggs in pan of water to cover; bring to a boil; turn off heat, cover pan with lid and leave 10 mins.  Run under cold tap until cool.

                                               More smoked fish on Nav Bar/RecipesI/Fish 

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This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.