Jamaican Mackerel Rundown

This is a creamy, savoury dish seasoned to perfection with the slightly salted mackerel which is the star of this meal. It is usually served with our Jamaican ground provisions which can be boiled green bananas, boiled yam, roasted breadfruit, boiled or fry dumplings or fried green or ripe plantains. 

Mackerel Rundown is another old time Jamaican recipe usually made for breakfast. The “rundown ” name comes from cooking down the seasonings in coconut milk until slightly thickened.

Ingredients

• Salted Mackerel
• Tomatoes – Plummy or other
• Onions
• Sweet Green Bell Pepper
• Garlic – Minced
• Fresh Thyme Leaves – Substitute with dry
• Scotch Bonnett Pepper
• Black Pepper
• Coconut Milk
• Oil

Preparation Steps

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1. Salted mackerel is pre-boiled in a large pot twice to remove excess salt,
2. Then picked into small pieces and placed in a bowl where the bones are also removed.
3. You cut up your natural seasonings and set aside such as onions, tomatoes, green pepper, thyme and scotch bonnet peppers.
4. If using powdered coconut milk, mix in 1 cup of water to dilute.
5.  When ready to cook down, use a large skillet and add your oil first until hot. Then sauté vegetables for a minute, then add the mackerel and black pepper.
6. Add the coconut milk until slightly thickened.

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Mackerel Rundown

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 6

Author Dianne

Ingredients

• 2 Lbs. Salted Mackerel
• 1 Medium Onion Cut thick horizontally
• 2 Small Plummy tomatoes 1/2 cup diced
• 1/4 Cup Green Pepper In chunks
• 2 Cloves garlic Minced
• 1/4 Piece Scotch Bonnet Pepper
• 2-3 Sprigs Fresh Thyme leaves
• 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
• 1 Cup Coconut Milk
• 3 Tbsp. Oil

Instructions

1. Wash excess salt off mackerel. Place in a medium pot with enough water to cover it.
2. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 20 minutes. Change water and boil another 15 minutes.
3. Rinse in cold water. When cool enough, pick mackerel into small pieces and place in a bowl removing bones and inedible parts.
4. Cut up seasonings. Mix coconut milk if using powder and set aside.
5. Heat medium to large skillet on medium heat. Add oil and heat a little. Add seasonings and sauté around 1 minute.
6. Add mackerel and coconut milk to pot. Stir and simmer about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and serve.