Turkish cuisine · Fish & Seafood

Çiroz Salatası (Dried Mackerel Salad)

Air-dried mackerel is soaked, pulled into strips and dressed with olive oil, vinegar and onions.

Ingredients · for 4 servings

• 300 g dried mackerel (çiroz)
• 1 red onion
• 1 bunch parsley
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp wine vinegar
• 1 lemon
• 1 tsp Aleppo pepper
• salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Place the dried mackerel in a shallow dish, cover completely with cold water and soak for 20 min. until the flesh is soft and pliable – changing the water once.
2. Pat the fish thoroughly dry, remove the skin and backbone and pull the flesh into thin strips with your fingers; remove any coarse bones.
3. Cut the red onion into paper-thin half-rings, rub briefly with 1 tsp salt and rinse under cold water so the sharpness disappears.
4. Whisk the olive oil, wine vinegar and the juice of half the lemon with pepper into a marinade.
5. Combine the fish strips, onions and roughly chopped parsley in a bowl with the marinade and let sit covered in the fridge for at least 15 min.
6. Arrange flat on a platter, sprinkle with Aleppo pepper and serve as a meze with the remaining lemon wedges.