A warm plate of rich golden linguine flecked with vibrant green pesto, topped by plump, grilled mackerel chunks. The dish brims with fresh herbs, like basil and parsley, and is specked with red chili flakes for a touch of color.

Pesto Mackerel Linguine

Name: Pesto Mackerel Linguine
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 fillets fresh Mackerel fillets, skin on fresh; 200g Linguine pasta; 1 cup Fresh Basil firmly packed; 1/2 cup Fresh Parsley firmly packed; 2 cloves Garlic peeled; 1/2 cup Pine Nuts toasted; 2/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated; 1/2 Lemon juiced; a pinch Red Chili Flakes; to taste Salt and Black Pepper

Flavorful mackerel linguine with zesty herb pesto.

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style American

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily recipe · January 04, 2026

A little about this dish

This delicious pasta dish is anything but ordinary: it stars mackerel, a highly nutritious fish that's boasts a rich, full-bodied flavor which is paired with a refreshing green herb pesto. It's a delightful twist on a classic American comfort food perfect for colder climate.

Ingredients (for 2)

Fresh mackerel fillets, skin on — 2 fillets — fresh
Linguine pasta — 200g
Fresh basil — 1 cup — firmly packed
Fresh parsley — 1/2 cup — firmly packed
Garlic — 2 cloves — peeled
Pine nuts — 1/2 cup — toasted
Extra virgin olive oil — 2/3 cup
Parmesan cheese — 1/2 cup — grated
Lemon — 1/2 — juiced
Red chili flakes — a pinch
Salt and black pepper — to taste

Preparation

Step 1 — 🌿🧀🔪

In a food processor, combine basil, parsley, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, grated parmesan, and lemon juice. Pulse until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and set it aside.
Step 2 — 🍝🌊⏲️

In a large pot of salted water, cook the linguine according to the package instructions until it's al dente.
Step 3 — 🐟🧂🔥

While pasta is cooking, season mackerel fillets with salt, pepper and a bit of olive oil. Grill each fillet, skin side down, on a hot grill pan for approximately 3 minutes on each side or until cooked.
Step 4 — 🍝🥣💧

Drain the pasta, saving a cup of pasta water. Add pasta back to the pot and mix with the pesto. If needed, add some pasta water to loosen the sauce.
Step 5 — 🍽️🌶️🍃

Plate the pesto pasta and top it with the grilled mackerel. Sprinkle some red chili flakes and drizzle some extra virgin olive oil before serving.

A final fox tip

To give this dish a personal touch, experiment with different herbs for the pesto: try substituting part of the basil for fresh mint or maybe try adding some capers for an additional splash of briny flavor. If needed, any firm white fish can be substituted for the mackerel.