Mackerel Pate Recipes

Steps:

• Tip the melted butter, lemon zest, mackerel and spring onion into a food processor and blend until smooth. Spoon into a ramekin and smooth the top.
• For the topping, melt the 15g butter with the horseradish, then stir in the parsley. Carefully spoon over the pâté to cover it. Press some parsley leaves on top, grind over some black pepper and chill to set the butter. Serve the ramekin of pâté with French bread, butter and extra horseradish sauce.

Steps:

• Peel and flake the mackerel and tip into a small blender with the cream cheese, lemon zest and half the lemon juice, and pulse to make a pâté. Add the chopped dill and pulse again to mix.
• Tip the mixture into a plastic piping bag or sandwich bag, cut off the end and pipe six thick cylinders of the pâté onto a baking tray and put in the freezer to harden for about 1 hr.
• Remove a strip of peel from the cucumber - it's easiest with a swivel peeler, but a normal one also works - then peel 12 neat ribbons off the cucumber. Do not throw away any of the seeds or the peelings. Dice any remaining flesh, cover and put in the fridge ready to use later. Use the neat ribbons to wrap around the pâté and put in the fridge. Can be made up to 1 day ahead.
• Tip the cucumber peelings and seeds into a blender or smoothie maker with the rest of the lemon juice, the olive oil and some seasoning. Blitz to make a thick dressing, then chill. Can be made 1 day ahead and kept in the fridge.
• To serve, pour a little dressing onto each plate, sit a cucumber-wrapped pâté on top, neatly scatter the diced cucumber and dill fronds, and drizzle over more olive oil.

Steps:

• Start by removing the skin from the mackerel fillets. Usually the skin will peel straight off but you can easily scrape any remaining skin off with a sharp knife.
• Roughly break up the fish, checking for any obvious bones or scales.
• Place the mackerel, cream cheese and creme fraiche (plus any additional ingredients if using) in a blender or food processor and whizz for 1 minute to ensure that all the mackerel flesh and peppercorns are combined. While the food processor is running add lemon juice to taste.
• Double check that all the ingredients are incorporated and give it a taste to check the seasoning! Then decant into a medium serving bowl or into individual portions - don't worry if the mixture is a little runny, it will firm up in the fridge. Garnish with parsley/chives/lemon, cover with cling-film and place in the fridge for at least an hour. Can be made in advance and keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Serve with crusty brown toast and enjoy!