Mediterranean Mackerel Lettuce Wraps

by Dana Sandonato // September 2, 2021 (updated January 5, 2024)

These crisp Mediterranean Mackerel Lettuce Wraps are a wholesome option full of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.

This post is sponsored by King Oscar | Thank you for supporting the brands I trust.

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These will fill you up and make you feel good.

Lettuce wraps are typically associated with low-carb eating and weight loss. But that’s not the goal with this recipe. These lettuce wraps are packed with light yet filling heart-healthy ingredients to satisfy your hunger without weighing you down. Crunchy bibb lettuce cups are filled with nutty brown rice, cucumbers, tomatoes, toasted almonds, and King Oscar’s Omega-3-rich Mediterranean mackerel. It’s the perfect way to dish up a wholesome lunch or fuel up with a mid-afternoon snack!

Why King Oscar Mackerel?

Simply put, any of King Oscar’s canned seafood is the best out there. Sure, that’s just my opinion, but it’s an honest, and I’d like to think educated, opinion. As a former pescatarian who’s tried her fair share of canned fish, I’m confident in where I stand. After all, there’s a reason I have such a fantastic working relationship with this brand! With King Oscar, you get great quality, fantastic ethics, and amazing people. Three things that are important to me no matter what I’m shopping for. But you’re here to hear about the taste, so let’s get to that. Every variation of King Oscar’s mackerel is packed in pure top-grade olive oil, giving it a buttery melt-in-your-mouth texture. And the flavors? They can’t be matched. The Mediterranean mackerel in particular is packed with pure olive oil, sliced olives, bell pepper, garlic, and herbs of Provence.

The fresh list of ingredients:

Brown rice
King Oscar Skinless and Boneless Mediterranean Style Mackerel Fillets
Boston bibb lettuce
Mini cucumbers
Grape tomatoes
Red onion
Toasted sliced almonds
Greek yogurt
Garlic powder
Italian herbs
Sea salt and cracked black pepper

The gist on making Mediterranean Mackerel Lettuce Wraps:

Cook your brown rice according to the directions on the package. While the rice cooks, drain the mackerel and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl—from the cucumbers to the salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients with a fork, flaking the mackerel, until everything is well blended. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Once the rice is done, let it cool down until it’s just warm. Spoon some rice into a bibb lettuce cup, and top with the mackerel mixture. You can eat it as is, or you can top with hummus or tahini.

Recipe tips + tricks.

Instead of using Greek yogurt, you could use tzatziki for extra oumph.
If you can’t find King Oscar’s Mediterranean mackerel, their mackerel in extra virgin olive oil will do.
You can swap out brown rice for other grains, like quinoa.
Since the rice adds some weight to the wraps, use two lettuce cups per wrap for more stability.
If you prefer to go without a creamy consistency, you can omit the use of Greek yogurt and spritz some fresh lemon juice over the mackerel and vegetables instead.

Other mackerel recipes you might like:

Hope you enjoy!

If you plan on making this recipe, be sure to snap a pic and tag us on Insta! @killing__thyme.