Grilled Mackerel with Sesame Seeds
A simple yet impressive dish of mackerel fillets marinated in a savory-sweet glaze, grilled until crisp, and finished with toasted sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 320
- Protein
- 28g

Ingredients
- 4 fillets mackerel fillets
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp sake
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 whole lime
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin, 1 tbsp sake, and 1 tsp sugar until the sugar dissolves.
- 2
Place the 4 mackerel fillets in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Turn to coat, then cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- 3
Meanwhile, toast the 2 tbsp sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking often, until fragrant and lightly golden, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- 4
Preheat your grill or broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly oil the rack or grate.
- 5
Remove the mackerel from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Place skin-side down on the prepared sheet.
- 6
Grill or broil the mackerel for 4-6 minutes, until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, and the skin is crisp and charred in spots.
- 7
Transfer the mackerel to a platter, sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds, and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.
- 8
Let the fish rest for 2 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
Tools you’ll need
- grill or broiler
- baking sheet
- small bowl
- shallow dish
- dry skillet
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
Custrd is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.


