Japanese
Saba Shioyaki (Grilled Mackerel)
Salt-grilled mackerel with crisp skin and a squeeze of lemon — a simple, classic Japanese fish dish from the air fryer.
About this recipe
Saba Shioyaki (Grilled Mackerel) is a japanese lunch for 2 that leans on the air fryer to do the work while you tidy up., and it takes about 20 min total but only ~10 min of hands-on work — the rest is waiting. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Good to know
* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 bowls, cooked rice
- 2 mackerel fillet buy
- 1 tbsp sake buy
- 1/2 lemon buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
Pat the mackerel dry, rub with sake, then salt both sides and rest 10 min; pat dry again.
~11 min
- 2
Air-fry at 200C skin-side up until crisp and cooked, 10–12 min.
~11 min
- 3
Serve with rice and a wedge of lemon.
~2 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Lemon
- lime, or a small splash of vinegar.
Cook's notes
- Rinse the rice until the water runs (mostly) clear for fluffier, less gummy grains. How to wash & cook rice →
- Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 10 min.
Storage & leftovers
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Frequently asked
How long does Saba Shioyaki (Grilled Mackerel) take to make? +
About 20 min from start to finish, but only roughly 10 min of that is hands-on — the rest is cooking or resting time.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: air fryer. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Lemon → lime, or a small splash of vinegar. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Saba Shioyaki (Grilled Mackerel) ahead of time? +
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
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