Mackerel that is fried with a little salt is a common way to eat this fish in Korea. You can buy pre-salted mackerel from a Korean grocery store. The saltiness varies between brands. This post is not really much of a recipe because all I did was fry the fish, but I wanted to introduce you to this popular Korean side dish. Dark fish meat is very healthy and mackerel has omega-3 fatty acid in its dark meat. Try this delicious and healthy Korean dish someday. Thanks! 😀
Yield: 2 Servings
Short Korean Lesson
- GuI (구이) = A way of cooking: Frying on a pan or grill
- GoDeungEo (고등어) = Mackerel
Video Instructions
⏰ The video for this recipe will be started at 3:28.
Main Ingredients
- 2 Pieces Salted Mackerel
- 2-3 Tbsp Oil
- Some Salt (if needed)
Directions
In a nonstick pan, add 2-3 Tbsp of oil, heat the pan on medium-high. The oil will give it better flavor.
Place the salted mackerels on a heated pan and fry them on medium or medium-high.
Cover the pan with some paper towels to prevent the oil from splashing out while this delicious mackerel is frying. 😉
When one side of the fish becomes golden brown, flip it over, but don’t flip it too often. Frying the fish with patience is the secret to good results.
If both sides of the fish become nicely golden brown like the picture, it is done. Depending on the pieces of fish, some can be less or more salty. After the fish is cooked, you might want to adjust the saltiness.
Before serving, leave the fried fish on a paper towel for a while to remove some of the oil.
The right amount of saltiness in the fried mackerel will make you happy, when you eat it with freshly cooked rice. Yummy~~~ Have a great weekend. 😀
i always see this type of fish on sale at the korean store. glad of your instruction on how to cook it. now, i will buy salted mackerel for our dinner. we luv mackerel. for us, we usually grill them. i know there’s another way is to spread gochujang mixture on the grilled mackerel, right? how do you call that. my husband like that very much 😉
Hi layping ^^
Oh, you love mackerel, then you definitely have to try this. 😉 aha… yes.. for that dish.. spread gochujang mixture on the grilled mackerel.. we usually use fresh.. (not salted) mackerel.. maybe.. call.. godeungeo gochujang gui ?? hehe.. anyway.. thanks 🙂
oh yes, you use that for the fresh mackerel…i forgot to add. my hubby like this godeungeo gochujang gui very much. in fact he likes the taste of gochujang a lot ;-}
hi layping,
hehe… your husband loves gochujang.. that’s one of the reason he likes Korean food then. hehe 🙂
This type of fish, famous in my hometown,,
We put it in the oven, Also sometimes Grilled^^
thank You for the recipe^^
Hi Tofee
Oh..really ?? You eat it with any kind of sauce or something else ?? Thanks 🙂
hehe^^
We use it with a special type of bread, soup or with rice.
Hi Tofee,
aha.. You eat with those things..hehe thanks for answering my question. 😉 Have a great weekend.
I’m a bit surprised you do not soak the mackerel before cooking to remove the excess salt. Does leaving that out not result in a highly salted finished product?
Hi reader,
If you click my link for the salted mackerel product, you can see it’s ready for cooking. Usually when they make this product, you put right amount of salt for the mackerel, so you don’t have to soak them in the water. Actually, mine needed a little more salt at the end. thanks 🙂
My wife loves this! I like it a lot sometimes I cook it on the grill.
It is also popular with my Japanese friends. It is an easy cheap dish but at Korean restaurants it is expensive.
Hi Powerplantop
hehe.. I’m not surprise that your wife loves this… actually she loves all of the Korean food you make..right ?? 😉 I agree… it can be cheap meal..then it’s expensive at Korean restaurants.. That’s the reason I wanted to introduce this to people. Have a great weekend. 🙂
I love eating fish this way. Very simple and delicious. I can’t seem to fry the fish well though. I always end up breaking the fish into pieces. Perhaps I’m flipping to soon. It still tastes great!!
Hi MrsDarth,
Hey~~ how have you been??? Your baby is growing well..right ??? I have to go to the bathroom very often and get heart burns nowadays.. otherwise, I’m okay… hehe I hope you are great.
yes… if you flipping to often, your fish can be broken…hehe but still yummy. 🙂
Hi Aeri!
I’ve had a few problems but nothing too bad. I’m on a strict diabetes diet. =P Oh…I hate waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. I try to stay asleep and pretend that I don’t have to go but my stomach ends up hurting. =P You’re due in a month!! Is your nursery ready? Did you buy everything you needed? I haven’t done anything. I should start this weekend. Stay healthy!!!
Mimi
Hi MrsDarth
It’s good to hear that you are okay. Yes, I don’t like to go to bathroom during night either. These days, I have to go to a bathroom every one hour during night. huk @,@ and it’s getting more difficult to get up because of my heavy body. I admire all the mothers in the world.. hehe
Yes, we finished shopping for bryson except some things we need research on internet before we buy ..such as baby bottles.. But his room is ready for him. Thanks, you stay healthy and enjoy your shopping for your princess this weekend. 🙂
this plus a good bowl of rice/jjuk with kimchee and some steamed veggies and a I am good to go!
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Hi JT,
haha… yep.. rice, jjik with kimchi… sounds yummy~~~ 🙂 thanks..
oh niiiiice, just like how my mama used to make!
hi alecho,
hehe… your mom makes it too ?? great. Thanks 🙂
so simple, so good — LOOVE godunguh!
i hope your pregnancy is going well! good to see your appetite is still strong 🙂
Hi eat your bap,
hehe..actually my appetite is getting stronger and stronger.. oops~~ hehe Thanks !!! your picture is kimchi soup?? looks delicious lol
got hold of this today and made them for dinner right away. as for us, the saltiness is just right. therefore, i didn’t add any additional salt. oh, we love this very much. thanks so much for your instruction 😉
hi layping,
hehe.. my sister in law tried this few weeks ago, she also liked it. 🙂 I’m happy for you. thanks
hi Aeri, In New Zealand I am glad to report that we are having lots of new Korean supermarkets opening ! This Makerel though I think I have only seen frozen ? Would that be salted ? I have also seen it in a can ? I love fish but it can be expensive fresh to buy here. P.s these supermarkets have a special butchery in them, An article on Korean meat cuts would be great! as I know no Korean and the sellers now limited English 🙂 The meat is cuts very differently to New Zealand way . Thanks
hi Anne,
if the makerel is for this kind of dish.. the package will say.. salted.. ^^ you can have both frozen or refrigerated.. from can is for stew or soup.. ^^ thanks
Found some fresh salted mackerel ! Was yummy but my mother didn’t like it because of the smell 🙁 My husband loved it though. Thanks
hi Anne,
I know.. if it’s not the smell..I will like to eat this everyday.. ^^
I love salted mackerel! My dad buys the pre-salted ones from the Asian market near us, and I prefer to coat the fish with a little olive oil and broil it in the oven. The smell isn’t as intense unlike when I fry it.. 🙂
I love this sooo much! and am hunting for the presalted pack. I love your site!!! 😛
Hi Aeri,
I am so happy I found your blog, my husband and I love korean food. I got a question for you, I bought the frozen mackerel from korean grocery store and on the package it says no need to refroze, so is that means I just pan fry it from frozen? Thanks!
hi Sharon,
Yes, I just fry my frozen mackerel without thaw… so yes.. you can do that. thanks
I work in a Scottish fish factory. We work with both herring and mackerel (seasonal).
Even after a long shift seeing thousands upon thousands of mackerel, I could eat it all day! Delicious, simple and healthy.
Yesterday, I was eating fresh mackerel which was caught only that morning….. fried in a little butter and garlic, seasoned with plenty pepper. So simple yet so delicious 🙂
hi Tambourine Man,
That’s so cool that you work in fish factory.. wow.. mackerel.. I love mackerel. You can eat those fresh fish all day?? Can I work there too?? I envy you.. hehe Thanks for your comment. ^^
I am so glad I discovered your site. We have a Korean market near us filled with interesting items. I tried your salt mackeral recipe and it was great! I think we are going to share many adventures together. Momcat
hi Momcat, You are lucky to have a Korean market near you. 🙂 thanks for trying my recipe. I’d love hear from you more often.