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20-Minute Lemon-Herb Canned Mackerel Pasta

Canned mackerel recipes featuring lemon-herb pasta with tomatoes, spinach, capers, and parsley

A quick pantry pasta with flaky canned mackerel, blistered tomatoes, spinach, capers, garlic, lemon, parsley, and a glossy olive-oil sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • 2 cans (4 to 5 ounces each) mackerel in olive oil, drained with 1 tablespoon oil reserved
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
  • 4 packed cups baby spinach
  • 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Kosher salt, only as needed

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente, then reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, drain the mackerel over a bowl and reserve 1 tablespoon of its flavorful oil. Break the fillets into large flakes.
  3. Heat the reserved tin oil and olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add tomatoes cut-side down and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Add garlic, capers, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds, only until the garlic smells fragrant.
  5. Add the drained pasta and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce looks glossy.
  6. Add spinach in handfuls and toss until just wilted. Reduce the heat to low.
  7. Fold in the mackerel gently, keeping the flakes large. Warm for about 1 minute without simmering hard.
  8. Remove from the heat. Add lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, parsley, and black pepper. Loosen with more pasta water as needed.
  9. Taste before adding salt. Serve immediately with extra lemon, parsley, and capers if desired.

Notes

Check the species on the label and choose Atlantic, chub, or jack mackerel. Fold the fish in at the end so it stays moist and visibly flaky.

Nutrition

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Find it online: https://www.hanaeats.com/canned-mackerel-recipes/