Mackerel Stew Using a Pressure Cooker

The pressure cooker is one of my must-have gadgets in the kitchen. One of the canned foods that I allow myself to buy is mackerel in tomato sauce. I make sandwiches with this fish instead of buying the sandwiches, such as Lee sandwich or Teo sandwich, in some of the Vietnamese shops nearby.  I do not know if the shops use canned mackerel in tomato sauce or make their own. However, with the pressure cooker, I will introduce this easy recipe, which results in a healthier version of mackerel in tomato sauce. For Asian people, this version of mackerel is more inline with our tastes than the one in the can. I am happy with the results, and I hope you will be also.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. of or 2 medium-sized mackerel

4 large tomatoes, roughly chopped

2 Tbsp coconut oil

4 shallots, chopped

1 large white onion, sliced

4 garlic cloves, chopped

4 green onions, cut into 2 inch lengths

Water solution ingredients:

5 cups water

2 tbs salt

2 tbs vinegar

2 tbs baking soda

Stew sauce ingredients:

1 cup water

2 tbs tomato paste

1 tbs blackstrap molasses

2 tbs honey

1 tsp salt

1 tbs fish sauce

1 tbs soy sauce

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne

3 dried chili peppers

Directions:

Cut the mackerel in 3 sections. Remove the intestines and soak fish in the water solution for 30 minutes; then drain. This process will remove all the odors from the mackerel.

Combine the stew sauce ingredients and mix well.

Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add shallots, garlic cloves, and white onions. Stir and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).

 Add mackerel and brown them with the fragrant oil.

Pour the stew sauce mixture atop the mackerel. Top with tomatoes and green onions.

Cover the lid as directed by your pressure cooker’s instruction booklet. Cook for 40 minutes on low-medium heat. Turn the heat off.  Let mackerel stew cook for another 10 minutes.

 Adjust the seasoning at the end of cooking time and cook a little more, if needed. The results will be like a can of good mackerel stew.