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Grilled mackerel

Godeungeo-gui 고등어구이

Hi, everybody, I’m introducing another Korean popular side dish to you today, godeungeo-gui – grilled mackerel. This salty mackerel side dish is one of the most common fish dishes in Korea. Mackerel is known as a fish that is a great source of nutrients such as good fat (omega 3 fatty acids), protein, vitamins, and minerals!

The more important reason for me to like this fish is that it’s tasty!
What else? : ) Yes, it’s also cheap!

When I lived in Korea, I used to buy a huge box of mackerel and split it with my friends. It was usual for us to meet at the wholesale fish market early in the morning to shop for fish! : ) I don’t think I can do it now, but at the time it was a good way to save  money and get very fresh mackerels during mackerel season. Besides, meeting my best friends at the market was a lot of fun.

In this video I only have 1 fish, but if you have a large family, or all your family members love mackerel, prepare several fish following my directions in the video and then wrap each piece of godeungeo in saran wrap. Keep them in the freezer and you can enjoy them for a long time.

Ingredients

1 mackerel (1¼ pound or about 600 grams), kosher salt, vegetable oil, flour.

Directions

  1. Remove the guts from the fish – watch the video to see how.
  2. Rinse the fish in cold water and drain.
  3. Cut it in half crosswise.
  4. Sprinkle 1½ tbs kosher salt evenly on both sides of each piece of fish.
    *tip: The amount of salt depends on your taste
  5. Keep it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

Now you can either pan-fry or grill.

Pan-fried mackerel:

Total cooking time: 10-12 minutes

  1. Coat both sides of fish with flour.
  2. Heat up the pan and add 2 tbs vegetable oil.
  3. Cook the fish for 3 minutes over medium high heat, until golden brown.
  4. Turn it over with a spatula and cook for 7 minutes over low heat.
  5. Turn it over and cook for 1-2 more minutes before transferring it to a plate.
  6. Serve with rice

Grilling:

Total cooking time 17 minutes

  1. Preheat the oven and set it broil.
  2. Rub some vegetable oil on both sides of the fish.
  3. Broil on the bottom rack of the oven for 10-12 minutes.
  4. Turn it over and cook 4-5 more minutes, until golden brown.
  5. Serve with rice

Posted on Saturday, July 31st, 2010. Last updated on January 10, 2023.
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34 Comments:

  1. hmucha CA joined 11/21 & has 5 comments
    Posted January 26th, 2023 at 1:26 am | or create a profile.

    Anyone try this with air fryer? What settings did you use? How did it compare with broiler?

  2. katherinelee7777 NY joined 10/19 & has 1 comment
    Posted October 27th, 2019 at 11:28 am | or create a profile.

    Maangchi! I live in New York City manhattan. Where can I find whole Korean mackerel?

  3. hermsoven New York joined 11/18 & has 1 comment
    Posted November 7th, 2018 at 7:29 pm | or create a profile.

    Easy and excellent. Tons of salt is not necessary. Just lightly sprinkle a pinch on both sides with your fingers. Thank you, Maangchi.

  4. Luavay Singapore joined 8/13 & has 1 comment
    Posted August 4th, 2013 at 6:01 am | or create a profile.

    Hi Maangchi, I have always wanted to cook saba fish and korean ginseng chicken soup myself. Always thought it is difficult to prepare and cook. Your videos were fantastic! Thank you for sharing! But I would like to ask on the exact amount of kosher salt I should use to rub on both sides of the fish? Also does kosher salt refer to coarse or sea salt?

    • Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 12,045 comments
      Posted August 5th, 2013 at 11:40 am | or create a profile.

      I use kosher salt. Regarding amount of salt, check out the direction step 4 : “Sprinkle 1½ tbs salt evenly on both sides of each piece of fish” for 1 mackerel (1¼ pound or about 600 grams). Good luck with your Korean cooking!

  5. chiyun joined 10/10 & has 2 comments
    Posted August 25th, 2012 at 7:29 pm | or create a profile.

    Hi Maangchi,
    I can’t wait to try this recipe. If I freeze the fish, should I let it thaw before cooking?
    Thanks—-

  6. Dir en grey joined 2/11 & has 9 comments
    Posted September 14th, 2011 at 6:50 pm | or create a profile.

    Thanks Maangchi! I made grilled and fried mackerel for lunch today and it was delicious! Both versions are very tasty and the best part was lunch for 2 only cost me $2 O_O! The fish was frozen but was still fresh and the meat was sweet and flakey (not dry at all although I put it in the broiler till it turned brown). Will definitely make this again nomnomnom.

  7. andrea kim oahu, hawaii joined 6/10 & has 13 comments
    Posted September 7th, 2011 at 1:05 am | or create a profile.

    The Korean store I go to had pre-cleaned and pre-salted mackerel. So, I followed your directions exactly after the salting directions. Oh, except I only had whole wheat flour, which turned out fine. OH MY GOSH!!!! It was so delicious!! Thank you thank you for posting the recipe! I LOVE your website <3 <3 <3

  8. marzipan Toronto, ON, Canada joined 4/11 & has 1 comment
    Posted April 3rd, 2011 at 12:21 am | or create a profile.

    Hi Maangchi,
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. Grilled fish is one of my favourite food. I have a couple of questions:
    what temperature do you broil the mackerel at?
    Also, can sea salt be used to instead of Kosher salt?

    thanks!

    • Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 12,045 comments
      Posted April 3rd, 2011 at 10:49 am | or create a profile.

      yes, sea salt will be even better.
      If you gill it with your oven, set it broil (500 F, 260 C).

      “Preheat the oven and set it broil.
      Rub some vegetable oil on both sides of the fish.
      Broil on the bottom rack of the oven for 10-12 minutes.
      Turn it over and cook 4-5 more minutes, until golden brown.”

  9. kathy001 usa joined 3/11 & has 1 comment
    Posted March 15th, 2011 at 1:27 pm | or create a profile.

    thank you Magngchi, my son love to eat this fish, i made it one more time, he eat all with rice, thank you so much for posting all recipes, have a nice day.

  10. ulke joined 8/10 & has 2 comments
    Posted August 7th, 2010 at 9:57 pm | or create a profile.

    You have great timing Maangchi! I thought I was going to have to hunt down this recipe but it was right there waiting for me when I got on this site! (I didn’t even know what type of fish it was.) Thank you for all the recipes and videos. I plan on making this, the rainbow rice cake, and some other things for my Mom’s birthday next week. She’s Korean and she loves your recipes too. THANK YOU!

  11. Casey New Jersey joined 4/10 & has 7 comments
    Posted August 7th, 2010 at 9:50 pm | or create a profile.

    Mmmmm mackerel is my favorite fish. Is it better to buy it whole? I always buy the ones that are already cleaned.

  12. LuccaQ Buffalo,NY joined 6/10 & has 30 comments
    Posted August 5th, 2010 at 6:28 pm | or create a profile.

    I’m so excited! I just found some beautiful mackerel at the fish market and I’m going to make it for dinner tonight. I got some Himalayan pink sea salt as a gift and I’m going to try it on this. The crispy skin looks very good!

  13. Amber727 New Jersey joined 7/09 & has 36 comments
    Posted August 2nd, 2010 at 2:47 am | or create a profile.

    I can’t wait to go to the store and buy some mackerel! This looks healthy and delicious!

  14. tsirhcevoli USA joined 3/10 & has 24 comments
    Posted August 1st, 2010 at 4:59 pm | or create a profile.

    You are so good at making Korean Food! Mackerel is my favorite dish! I can eat a whole mackerel! I have loved fish all my life! Now, I have a new way how to make Fish! : D THANK YOU FOR RELEASING THIS RECIPE! : )
    Many thanks,
    tsirhcevoli

  15. Zenkimchi Anyang, South Korea joined 1/10 & has 3 comments
    Posted August 1st, 2010 at 12:02 am | or create a profile.

    This is one of my favorite Korean foods. I really didn’t like fish that much until I moved to Korea. The secret is in the salt. You really gotta season these buggers. Korea really knows how to grill fish.

  16. soko2usa Minnesota joined 4/09 & has 55 comments
    Posted July 31st, 2010 at 11:16 pm | or create a profile.

    It’s almost a shame to burn away all the pretty blue stripes. I’ve been wondering how to roast fish, now I can do it! I’ll have to find mackrel soon!

  17. Ina Maryland,USA joined 10/08 & has 13 comments
    Posted July 31st, 2010 at 5:49 pm | or create a profile.

    Maangchi Onni,..watching this video makes my mouth water too..It look so yummy!!

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