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Fish & seafood · Oily fish

Kingfish (king mackerel)

King mackerel (surmai, seer fish): firm, meaty steaks with a single central bone; fried or curried.

Also called: king mackerel, kanaad, kingfish steaks, surmai, seer fish, narrow-barred mackerel

Around the world: kanaad, كنعد (ar)

A kind of fish

1 recipe with it

What it is

Kingfish here is king mackerel and its close relative the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (surmai, seer fish). It is a large, fast fish usually sold as round steaks cut through the backbone. The flesh is firmer and milder than small mackerel but still richly flavoured. In some countries 'kingfish' also means yellowtail amberjack, a different fish.

How it’s used

  • Masala-crusted surmai fry
  • Goan and Konkani fish curries
  • Caribbean fried or escovitch fish
  • Grilled steaks

Characteristics

Taste
Rich and savoury.
Texture
Firm and meaty.
When cooked
Steaks hold together well in curries and frying.
Sold as
fresh, frozen
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Suitable for frying, Suitable for grilling

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep cold and cook within a day or two.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Fish.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Contains fish, a common allergen.
  • Keep fish very cold (on ice or in the coldest part of the fridge) and cook within a day or two of buying; a strong ammonia or sour smell means it has spoiled. Cook to 63 °C (145 °F), when the flesh turns opaque and flakes.
  • King mackerel is high in mercury; many food agencies advise pregnant people and young children to avoid it.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
105 kcal
Protein
20.28 g
Carbohydrate
0 g
Fat
2 g
Fibre
0 g
Sugars
— g

USDA FoodData Central: Fish, mackerel, king, raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Tuna — Steaks 1:1; cook through for curries.
  • Mackerel — Whole small mackerel for frying.

Related ingredients

Recipes with kingfish (king mackerel)

  • Mashuai

    Omani · 1 h 5 min · 566 kcal

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