Docapesca, the company that controls Portugal’s fishing ports, is challenging the country’s hotel and catering schools to come up with a winning recipe for a gourmet mackerel burger.
Their project entitled ‘Fish Gourmet’ was launched last weekend in Peniche in an attempt to get up-and-coming chefs to use mackerel more frequently.
Says Docapesca, mackerel is “very commonly-found in Portuguese waters, rich in omega 3″ and better still, it’s cheap. Thus the challenge for a recipe high in nutritional value that could be marketed at no more than €2 per burger.
“The presentation of the recipe must be appealing, able to be produced and packaged industrially as a ‘ready-to-eat meal’, and accessible, both in terms of price and quality,” said Docapesca.
Its target-audience will be “young single people and young couples”, who “do not have much experience or time” to cook but have the “financial means to purchase healthy and balanced meals”.
The three best recipes will be selected and invited to compete in the competition’s finals, to take place in April next year.
And the overall winner will receive a three-month apprenticeship to a top Portuguese Chef, while his school will win an assortment of fish-related prizes.
Docapesca will be fielding an expert jury of gastronomes, nutritionists and fish aficionados and accepting recipes from November 1 to February 28 next year.
