# Mackerel & Chickpea Tomato One-Pot

A frugal, protein-heavy stovetop one-pot built to clear the most recently
expired (rusty) tins from the TB-17 expired-food box: two mackerel-in-tomato
tins, the canned chickpeas, and the Bulgarian paprika/tomato jar — lifted with
fresh onion, garlic and peppers. Serve over rice (in stock) or with fresh bread.

## Ingredients

**From inventory:**
- [ ] 1 onion, chopped `ID:onion-2026-05-24` (location: pantry-behind-stove, bb:2026-06-23)
- [ ] 2–3 cloves garlic, minced `ID:garlic-2026-06-10` (location: pantry-behind-stove, bb:2026-07)
- [ ] fresh mixed peppers, sliced `ID:peppers-2cvjat-2026-06-07` (location: pantry-behind-stove, bb:2026-06-13) ⚠️ 1 day left — use now
- [ ] 1 can chickpeas, drained (~240g) `ID:chickpeas-carrefour-canned` (location: TB-17, bb:2026-06-06:EST) ⚠️ expired/rusty — quality check before use (discard if tin bulges, hisses, or smells off)
- [ ] 1 tin mackerel in tomato sauce `ID:mackerel-diavena-tomato` (location: TB-17, bb:2026-06-06:EST) ⚠️ expired/rusty — quality check before use
- [ ] 1 tin mackerel in tomato sauce `ID:mackerel-fishy-tomato` (location: TB-17, bb:2026-06-06:EST) ⚠️ expired/rusty — quality check before use
- [ ] ~½ jar Bulgarian paprika/tomato sauce `ID:sauce-paprika-jar-bg` (location: TB-17, bb:2026-03-13) ⚠️ expired — quality check before use
- [ ] 1 fresh tomato, diced (optional, for body) `ID:tomatoes-pink-2026-06-10` (location: pantry-behind-stove, bb:2026-06-18)
- [ ] wedge of lemon, to finish `ID:lemons` (location: pantry-behind-stove, bb:2026-06-27)
- [ ] rice, to serve (~1 cup dry) `ID:rice-billa-2026-06-06` (location: pantry, bb:2027-01-05) — or any rice in stock
- [ ] olive oil, salt, pepper (pantry staples)

**Needs shopping:**
- [ ] 🛒 fresh parsley or coriander, to garnish (optional)
- [ ] 🛒 fresh bread, if serving with bread instead of rice (optional)

**Preparation needed:**
- [ ] ⚠️ Open and inspect each TB-17 tin BEFORE committing: discard any that bulge, hiss on opening, or smell off. The tins are rusty; the printed dates run later but the box rule treats them as use-now.
- [ ] Chop onion, garlic, peppers and tomato before you start frying.

## Equipment

Boat kitchen (Solveig): single pot on the gas stove. No microwave/blender
needed. If serving rice, cook it in the pressure cooker or a second pot while
the stew simmers.

## Instructions

1. Inspect and open the two mackerel tins, the chickpea tin and the paprika
   jar. Reserve the tomato sauce from the mackerel tins (don't drain it — it's
   part of the sauce). Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
2. Start the rice (separate pot / pressure cooker) so it finishes with the stew.
3. Heat a glug of olive oil in the pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook
   3–4 min until soft. Add garlic and peppers, cook another 2–3 min.
4. Add the diced fresh tomato (if using) and cook 2 min to break it down.
5. Stir in the paprika/tomato jar sauce and the chickpeas. Simmer 5 min.
6. Gently fold in the mackerel with its tomato sauce, breaking the fillets into
   large chunks. Simmer just 3–4 min — long enough to heat through; over-stirring
   turns the fish to mush. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finish with a squeeze of lemon.
8. Serve over rice (or with bread), garnished with parsley/coriander if bought.

## Variations

> **Note:** Two mackerel tins make this distinctly fishy. For a milder result,
> use one mackerel tin and bulk up with a second can of chickpeas or a handful
> of the fresh peppers.

> **Note:** A pinch of chilli or cumin lifts the canned-tomato base if you want
> more warmth — both are optional, not traditional to this improvised dish.

## Items used from inventory

| Item | ID | Location | Status |
|------|-----|----------|--------|
| Onion | onion-2026-05-24 | pantry-behind-stove | bb:2026-06-23 |
| Garlic | garlic-2026-06-10 | pantry-behind-stove | bb:2026-07 |
| Fresh peppers | peppers-2cvjat-2026-06-07 | pantry-behind-stove | bb:2026-06-13 (1d) |
| Canned chickpeas | chickpeas-carrefour-canned | TB-17 | EXPIRED/rusty (bb:2026-06-06:EST) |
| Mackerel in tomato | mackerel-diavena-tomato | TB-17 | EXPIRED/rusty (bb:2026-06-06:EST) |
| Mackerel in tomato | mackerel-fishy-tomato | TB-17 | EXPIRED/rusty (bb:2026-06-06:EST) |
| Paprika/tomato jar | sauce-paprika-jar-bg | TB-17 | EXPIRED (bb:2026-03-13) |
| Pink tomato (opt.) | tomatoes-pink-2026-06-10 | pantry-behind-stove | bb:2026-06-18 |
| Lemon | lemons | pantry-behind-stove | bb:2026-06-27 |
| Rice | rice-billa-2026-06-06 | pantry | bb:2027-01-05 |

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*Generated 2026-06-12 to clear rusty 6-day-expired tins (mackerel, chickpeas, paprika jar) from the TB-17 expired-food box.*