Horse Mackerel in Garlic & Parsley

Conservas Santos is a Portuguese conservas producer rooted in the traditions of the Iberian canning industry. This tin features horse mackerel — known in Portuguese as chicharro — a species distinct from Atlantic mackerel that is deeply embedded in the everyday seafood culture of Portugal and a staple of the traditional Portuguese diet, particularly in the Azores and along the Atlantic coast.

Horse mackerel is leaner and more delicate in flavour than Atlantic mackerel — less fatty, with a cleaner, more neutral character that makes it an excellent vehicle for the aromatics it is packed with here: garlic and parsley, the foundational combination of Portuguese coastal cooking. Garlic is present in almost every savoury preparation in the Portuguese kitchen; parsley is its constant companion, adding freshness and a herbal lift that keeps the garlic from becoming too forward. Together they transform the horse mackerel into something aromatic and deeply flavoured without masking the character of the fish itself.