Sicilian Style Swordfish Recipes

SWORDFISH A LA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Soak raisins in lukewarm water for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or skillet over high heat. Saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in raisins, tomatoes, olives, pine nuts and capers. Cover pan, reduce heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes.
• Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Place in a lightly oiled baking dish and cover with the cooked sauce. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until steaks are firm.

SICILIAN GRILLED SWORDFISH

Steps:

• Light a charcoal grill or preheat a gas or stovetop grill until very hot.
• For the sauce, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.
• When the grill is ready, sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes on one side, then turn and cook for 1 to 2 minutes on the other side until almost cooked through. Remove to a flat dish, prick holes in the fish with the tines of a fork, and pour the lemon sauce over the fish while it¿s still hot. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• When ready to serve, place the swordfish on dinner plates or a serving platter, pile the arugula on top, drizzle with the sauce from the fish, and sprinkle with the grated lemon zest. Serve warm.

SICILIAN SWORDFISH WITH SWEET-AND-SOUR VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Prepare the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the fennel and cook until slightly soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the sugar and season with kosher salt and pepper. Add the vinegar, garlic and 1 cup water; bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the onions are tender, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the fish: Finely chop the pine nuts by hand. Mix the nuts, lemon zest, parsley, and sea salt and pepper to taste on a cutting board. Pat the swordfish dry and brush with olive oil on both sides. Press the fish into the nut mixture, turning to coat.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and swirl to coat. When the oil shimmers, lay the fish in the pan and cook, undisturbed, until golden on the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook until just golden on the other side, 3 to 4 more minutes. Using tongs, lay each swordfish steak on its side to sear the edges, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low. Turn the fish so the lighter side is down and cook until just firm to the touch, 6 to 8 more minutes. Transfer to a cutting board.
• While the fish rests, finish the vegetables: Add the tomatoes, oregano, capers and brine to the onions and cook until the tomatoes soften, 5 to 8 minutes. Season with kosher salt and pepper.
• Slice the fish and divide among plates. Spoon the vegetables and juices onto the plates. Drizzle with the lemon juice and olive oil.

SICILIAN SWORDFISH WITH ONIONS

Steps:

• 1 Pour 2 tablespoons of the oil into a medium skillet. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the anchovies and cook 5 minutes more or until very tender. Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper and simmer 10 minutes. 2 Place a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Oil a baking pan large enough to hold the fish in a single layer. 3 Pat the swordfish steaks dry. Place them in the prepared pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon on the sauce. Toss the bread crumbs with the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil. Scatter the crumbs over the sauce. 4 Bake 10 minutes or until the fish is just slightly pink in the center. Test for doneness by making a small cut in the thickest part of the fish. Serve hot. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SWORDFISH, SICILIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for direct grilling over high heat and oil the grill rack.
• Coat the swordfish with olive oil.
• To make the spice rub, in a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, dried basil, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, salt and lemon pepper. Sprinkle both sides of each swordfish steak generously with the spice rub.
• To make the salsa, in a bowl, mix together the olives, tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, cayenne, oil and lemon juice. Taste and season with salt. Set aside.
• Grill the swordfish directly over high heat, turning once, until grill-marked, firm to the touch and opaque throughout, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Arrange the fish steaks on individual plates and top with the salsa or serve it alongside.

GRILLED SWORDFISH SICILIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat grill on high (or preheat the broiler on high).
• In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice with the salt until the salt dissolves. Stir in the oregano. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and season generously with pepper.
• Grill the swordfish steaks over high heat (as close to the heat as possible), turning once, until cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Transfer the fish to a platter. Prick each fish steak in several places with a fork to allow the sauce to penetrate.
• Using a spoon, beat the sauce, then drizzle it over the fish.
• Serve immediately.