Horse mackerel is a marine fish belonging to the Carangidae family. It lives in schools and is widely consumed in Türkiye. Known for its shiny silver appearance, distinctive flavor, and nutritious flesh, horse mackerel can be prepared in various ways, including frying, grilling, baking, and steaming.
Physical Characteristics and Habitat
- Its body is long, slender, and slightly compressed from the sides.
- Its back is bluish, greenish, or gray, while its sides and belly are bright silver.
- It has hard and prominent scales extending toward the tail along its lateral line.
- It generally grows between 15 and 30 centimeters in length, although it can reach larger sizes under favorable conditions.
- It forms large schools and lives in waters close to the surface and at medium depths.
- It feeds on small fish, fish larvae, plankton, and small crustaceans.
- It is found in the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the eastern parts of the Atlantic Ocean.
- In Türkiye, it is caught extensively in coastal waters, especially during the autumn and winter months.
Horse Mackerel Calorie Content
100 grams of raw horse mackerel contains approximately 117 kcal. A 150-gram serving provides approximately 176 kcal of energy. Horse mackerel is a valuable seafood rich in high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and various vitamins.
| Nutritional Value | Per 100 Grams | 1 Serving (150 g) | Daily Value per 100 Grams* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 117 kcal | 176 kcal | 5.9% |
| Carbohydrates | 0.8 g | 1.2 g | 0.3% |
| Fiber | 0 g | 0 g | 0% |
| Protein | 19.8 g | 29.7 g | 39.6% |
| Fat | 4 g | 6 g | 6.2% |
| Cholesterol | 47 mg | 70.5 mg | 15.7% |
| Vitamin A | 13.5 µg | 20.3 µg | 1.5% |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 420 mg | 630 mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 184 mg | 276 mg | 18.4% |
| Iron | 3.7 mg | 5.6 mg | 20.6% |
*Daily values are calculated based on an average 2,000-calorie diet. Nutritional values are approximate and may vary depending on the species, size, season, fat content, storage conditions, and cooking method of the horse mackerel.
