What is Mackerel called in Mexico?

In Mexico, Mackerel is known as Macarela.

What is Mackerel called in Argentina?

In Argentina, Mackerel is known as Caballa.

What is Mackerel called in France?

In France, Mackerel is known as Maquereau.

What is Mackerel called in Spain?

In Spain, Mackerel is known as Caballa.

What is Mackerel called in Portugal?

In Portugal, Mackerel is known as Cavala.

What is Mackerel called in Brazil?

In Brazil, Mackerel is known as Cavala.

What is Mackerel called in Italy?

In Italy, Mackerel is known as Sgombro.

What is Mackerel called in Germany?

In Germany, Mackerel is known as Makrele.

What family does Mackerel belong to?

Mackerel belongs to Scombridae, the mackerel family.

Mackerel

Fish · Scombridae

Mikael Nyman, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Also called

🇲🇽Macarela🇦🇷🇪🇸Caballa🇫🇷Maquereau🇵🇹🇧🇷Cavala🇮🇹Sgombro🇩🇪Makrele

Atlantic mackerel is an oily, strongly flavored fish with iridescent blue-green skin and rich, dark flesh. It is affordable, nutritious, and sustainable. In Spain it is marinated in vinegar as escabeche. In France it is grilled or smoked. In the UK it is popular smoked or pan-fried. Its high fat content makes it ideal for smoking, grilling, and curing.

Names by country

Country	Name	Notes
🇺🇸United States	Mackerel
🇬🇧United Kingdom	Mackerelprimary	Popular smoked or pan-fried; one of the UK's most sustainable fish choices
🇲🇽Mexico	Macarela
🇦🇷Argentina	Caballa
🇫🇷France	Maquereau	Often served grilled with mustard sauce or marinated
🇪🇸Spain	Caballa	Popular marinated in vinegar with onion — caballa en escabeche
🇵🇹Portugal	Cavala
🇧🇷Brazil	Cavala
🇮🇹Italy	Sgombro
🇩🇪Germany	Makrele

Culinary substitutes

Sardinha

Both are small, oily, strongly flavored fish with similar nutritional profiles — mackerel is larger and meatier, sardines are smaller and typically grilled or canned.

Sierra

Both are Scombridae with strong, oily flesh suited to grilling and curing — sierra is larger and firmer with a more pronounced flavor, Atlantic mackerel is smaller and more delicate.

Jurel

Both are small, oily, strongly flavoured fish grilled whole or escabechado — horse mackerel is firmer, drier and more mineral, and is not actually a mackerel.