Smoked mackerel pate on cucumber rounds

Why This Works for Intermittent Fasting

Smoked mackerel is one of the most nutrient-dense fish you can eat — packed with omega-3s, complete protein, and natural fat that keeps insulin stable and hunger suppressed well into your fasting window. Full-fat cream cheese amplifies the satiety signal without adding any meaningful carbohydrate load. Served on cucumber, this breakfast delivers real food in minutes while keeping you comfortably in fat-burning mode.

Ingredients

• 200 g (7 oz) smoked mackerel fillets, skin removed
• 100 g (3.5 oz) full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 2 tbsp sour cream or crème fraîche
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped (plus extra sprigs to garnish)
• 1 tbsp capers, drained and roughly chopped
• 1 tsp horseradish cream (optional)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 large English cucumber, sliced into 1 cm rounds
• Pinch of smoked paprika, to garnish

Instructions

1. Flake the smoked mackerel fillets into a medium bowl, checking carefully for any remaining small bones and discarding them.
2. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Using a fork, mash everything together until mostly smooth — a little texture is fine.
3. Stir in the chopped dill and capers. Add horseradish cream if using. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
4. For an ultra-smooth pâté, transfer the mixture to a small food processor and pulse 4–5 times until silky.
5. Slice the cucumber into rounds roughly 1 cm thick and arrange on a serving plate or board.
6. Spoon or pipe a generous mound of pâté onto each cucumber round.
7. Garnish each round with a small dill sprig and a pinch of smoked paprika.
8. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate the pâté for up to 48 hours — assemble the rounds just before eating.

Nutrition Per Serving

Fasting Compatibility

Best for: 16:8, 18:6, OMAD. This no-cook breakfast opens your eating window with a high-fat, moderate-protein hit that keeps blood sugar flat and delays the return of hunger — ideal if you want your eating window to feel effortless and short.

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