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  • 2 days ago
Saba no shioyaki is a Japanese-style grilled mackerel recipe that uses salt and heat to bring out the rich flavor of the fish. The mackerel is usually patted dry, lightly salted, and rested so the seasoning draws out moisture while keeping the flesh firm and savory. It is then grilled, broiled, or pan grilled until the skin becomes crisp and the inside stays moist and tender. The simple method lets the natural oiliness of saba shine while the salt balances the strong fish flavor. A squeeze of lemon, grated daikon, soy sauce, or rice vinegar can add freshness at the end. The final grilled mackerel pairs well with steamed rice, miso soup, pickles, tamagoyaki, or vegetable sides for a clean and satisfying Japanese home meal.
Transcript
00:00Hi, I'm Yuto, and today on Stachi, I'm going to show you how to make a simple and delicious
00:04Japanese-style grilled mackerel called Sawa no Shioyaki.
00:08Let's get started.
00:09Here, I have one Japanese mackerel that has been divided into two fillets and deboned.
00:15First, I'm going to place them in a bowl of cold water, and gently rub the surface
00:19to clean them.
00:34Once that's done, dry them with kitchen paper, and place them in a container.
00:55Pour a tablespoon of sake over the top, and just rub it all over until the mackerel is
01:01evenly coated.
01:03The sake helps soften the fishy odors, and tenderizes the flesh, so I highly recommend
01:08doing this.
01:10Put a lid on top, and store it in the fridge for about 15 minutes, 30 if you have time.
01:17Once the time is up, start preheating your grill on a medium-high setting.
01:22I'm using a Japanese fish grill, but an oven grill or broiler works just as well.
01:27While you wait, take the mackerel from the fridge and dry it with kitchen paper once more.
01:33We want the skin to crisp up nicely, so it's important there isn't too much moisture.
01:45Place the fillets on a chopping board and make shallow diagonal incisions across the skin
01:50like this.
01:50This will allow the salt to penetrate the skin side, and also help prevent it curling too
01:56much.
01:57Just don't cut it too deep.
02:05Finally, sprinkle both sides with a general pinch of salt.
02:09How much salt you use depends on your preference, but I'd say I use about 1 teaspoon for this
02:16whole mackerel.
02:30The grill should be hot by now, so let's cook.
02:34Place the mackerel with the skin side down first, and grill for about 4 minutes.
02:38This timing is approximate and depends on the thickness of your fish and the strength of
02:43the heat.
02:46If you're using a whole fish, it will take a lot longer.
02:49Try and lay it down so that it's directly underneath the heat source if possible.
02:54If you're making multiple portions, you might need to grill them in batches to ensure even
02:59cooking.
03:01After 4 minutes, flip them over and cook for 3 minutes on the other side or until the skin
03:06is nicely browned and the fish is cooked all the way through.
03:30This is beautifully browned and ready to serve.
03:34I'm just going to grate some daikon radish to place on the side of the mackerel.
03:38This adds a refreshing touch to the dish.
03:41I also like to add a squeeze of citrus.
03:44I'm using stachi this time, but you could use lemon or lime if that's more accessible.
03:57Saba no shioyaki is perfect with rice miso soup and makes a great Japanese-style set meal.
04:04Thanks so much for watching, and if you want to learn more about this recipe, the link to
04:08my blog is in the description.
04:10Thanks again, have a great day.
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