Mackerel rillettes
This recipe for mackerel rillettes (or potted mackerel) starts with poaching the fish. The flesh is then taken off the bones and forked into a seasoned mixture of butter, mustard, cream and lemon juice.
In France this is traditionally eaten as an aperitif snack, served on small slices of toast.
In France this is traditionally eaten as an aperitif snack, served on small slices of toast.
58 K 3/5 (5 reviews)
1 hour
Easy
300 g
10 IngredientsLast modified on: June 19th 2019
2 mackerel
1 tablespoon 
70 g 
2 tablespoons 
1 tablespoon Mustard
2 tablespoons lemon juice
chive flowers (optional)
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 40 min.
Cooking: 20 min.
All in all: 1 hour
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1
Ask your fishmonger to prepare 2 mackerel for you: cleaned and the head cut off.
Stage 2 - 3 min.
Rinse thoroughly under cold running water, then put in a large pan of cold water with 1 tablespoon coarse salt.
Stage 3 - 20 min.
Put on low heat and poach gently at a simmer for about 10 minutes.
Ideally, check the temperature of the fish flesh with an electronic thermometer. It will be cooked once the centre of the thickest part reaches 122°F (50°C).
Ideally, check the temperature of the fish flesh with an electronic thermometer. It will be cooked once the centre of the thickest part reaches 122°F (50°C).
Stage 4 - 30 min.
Remove the mackerel from the poaching water and leave to cool, then take all the flesh off the bones and discard the rest (skin, bones, etc.).
Unfortunately, there's no getting away from it: this is a long and tedious job.
Put all the boned flesh into a bowl.
Unfortunately, there's no getting away from it: this is a long and tedious job.
Put all the boned flesh into a bowl.
Stage 5 - 5 min.
Stage 6 - 2 min.
Mix well with a fork.
Check the seasoning. Transfer into jars and leave overnight, at least, in the fridge.
Check the seasoning. Transfer into jars and leave overnight, at least, in the fridge.
Stage 7
When you want to serve your rilletes, toast some slices of bread (rounds of French baguette here).
Stage 8
Spread the rillettes generously on the toast and decorate, if you like, with a few chive flowers. Then enjoy!
Remarks
Do feel free to vary either the ingredients or the amounts in this recipe. The general spirit of it is: poached mackerel flesh, a little butter and/or cream, herbs and spices of your choice, plus a hint of acidity (normally lemon juice, but vingar or white wine will also work).
For a tastier version, poach the mackerel in a fish stock, rather than salted water.
For a tastier version, poach the mackerel in a fish stock, rather than salted water.
Keeping: A few days in the fridge, in a sealed jar.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 160 RDI=60 % | 8 RDI=1 % | 140 RDI=20 % | 1,880 RDI=90 % | 7,870 RDI: 90 % |
| Per 100 g | 20 RDI=7 % | 0 | 20 RDI=2 % | 220 RDI=10 % | 920 RDI: 10 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 300 g : 3.00 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Butter
Like these other recipes: Seafood feuillantines, Beurre blanc sauce, Apple and almond gratin, Cabbage and cheddar quiche, Spicy roast cauliflower gratin, ... See them all 472
Cream
Like these other recipes: Eggs Arsène, Scallops with cabbage julienne, Leek and egg frichti, Mini cheese and mustard toasts, Du Barry soup, ... See them all 115
Mackerel
Like these other recipes: Mackerel Fillets in White Wine, ... See them all 1
Lemon juice
Like these other recipes: Strawberry, kiwi and mascarpone verrines, Avocado with gravlax, Tender tuna, Lebanese Tabbouleh, Red endive appetizers, ... See them all 71
Other recipes you may also like
Sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée)
Sweetcrust pastry is one of the basic pastry of French patisserie, used in many tart and cakes recipes, but it can also be rolled out and cut into biscuits, delicious with tea or coffee. This recipe is given for those who have a mixer (Kenwood, KitchenAid or other), but it can also be done with your...July 1st 2019487 K 23.8 35 min.
Grilled fillet of salmon with corn-salad cream
A salmon fillet, grilled slowly to keep the inside tender, served with sesame rice and a little corn salad cream. You'll love it...October 13th 2010275 K 13.9 1 hour 15 min.
Yvetot Douillons
This dessert, named after a small town in Normandy, consists of a pear filled with confectioner's custard (French pastry cream), which is wrapped in a pancake and puff pastry, then baked. The "douillon" part of the name comes from a warm coat, the "douillette", of former times.November 26th 201480 K4.3 1 hour 3 min.
Baked apples from St Aubin le Vertueux
Under this pretty name, my personal version of "Les pommes au four" (baked apples).February 21th 2011252 K 24.2 1 hour 7 min.
4 pears salad with vanilla
It's a very easy recipe, everything depends on the choice of differents kinds of pears all fully ripe, to give a delicious contrast in the mouth.February 21th 2011232 K4.2 40 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-06-22)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.