Grilled Swordfish Steaks with Basil-Caper Butter from food & wine

  • download6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • 2 teaspoons drained capers, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Four 8-ounce swordfish steaks, cut 1 inch thick
  1. Light a grill. In a small bowl, blend the butter with the basil, capers and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, and refrigerate.
  2. In a large, shallow dish, mix the olive oil with the remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Season the swordfish with salt and pepper and turn the fish in the olive oil mixture. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  3. Grill the swordfish steaks over a hot fire until nicely charred on the outside and just cooked within, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the steaks to plates, top each with a dollop of basil-caper butter and serve right away.

 

Swordfish with lemon-garlic sauce

swordfishFor the lemon-garlic sauce

  • 1 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • Grated zest from 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 1 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoons parsley for garnish, snipped or cut into small pieces

Take the swordfish out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature.

Dry off fish, salt and pepper it, put a very small amount of grapeseed oil in cast iron pan and heat until quite hot. Depending on thickness of fish cook 3-7 min on each side.

Make the lemon-garlic sauce

You can make the sauce while the swordfish steaks roast in the oven – so fast and easy to do, and the smell is addictive.

1.  Add the butter and olive oil to a small skillet, and melt over low heat. 

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook over very low heat (you don’t want to burn the garlic!) until the garlic softens, add capers.  Set aside until the fish is done.

2. Use a spatula to carefully remove the swordfish from the pan and put it on a serving platter.

3.  Add the white wine to the cooking pan and stir to deglaze – remember to use oven mitts when touching the hot pan!  Pour the wine mixture into the skillet with the garlic, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, to reduce the volume.  Remove from the heat, and stir in the grated lemon zest and lemon juice.  Pour over the swordfish, and garnish with the parsley.

Serving suggestions

Serve this delicious swordfish with lemon-garlic sauce with linguine or another type of pasta, a green vegetable such as steamed broccoli, and crusty slices of French bread. 

Sicilian-Style Swordfish from food52.com

  • IMG_9855tablespoons olive oil
  • medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
  • 1/4 cup pitted oil-cured black olives coarsely chopped
  • tablespoons salted capers, well rinsed and coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine, preferably Sicilian
  • Crushed red pepper to taste
  • 4 x 6 ounces swordfish steaks
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Basil, roughly torn for garnish
  1. In a large skillet (one wide enough to hold swordfish in a single layer), heat oil over medium-high heat.
  2. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until onion is lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  3. Add sun-dried tomatoes, olives, capers, wine and generous pinch red pepper flakes; stir together. Transfer to bowl.
  4. Lightly season swordfish with salt and pepper; in a single layer, place fish in skillet.
  5. Return skillet to medium-high heat, cover and cook for 3 minutes per side.
  6. When swordfish is cooked through and browned, cover with sauce and warm.
  7. Sprinkle roughly torn basil and serve. This dish can also be served room temperature.Serves 4