Grilled Swordfish and Asparagus With Parsley-Caper Salsa

This impressive 30-minute meal is one you can whip up on a weeknight.

Grilled swordfish and asparagus dinner easy dinner recipe
Photo:

Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Prep Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
4

Fire up the grill (or grill pan!) for this grilled swordfish recipe. Swordfish is mild-tasting and lean which makes the herby, oil-based caper sauce the perfect condiment. You’ll start by preparing the stir-together salsa and a lemon zest-infused marinade to brush all over the steaks. To prevent sticking, it’s important to oil the grill grates and the swordfish steaks, and the marinade makes it impossible to forget the latter while providing the seasoning, too. Then you’ll grill the asparagus and lemon until both are beautifully charred. The lemons sweeten as they char and the juice becomes the salsa’s final touch. 

Swap the asparagus for green beans or broccolini. Bulk up the meal with roasted potatoes, or rice zhuzhed up with cooked onion and simmered in broth à la rice pilaf. 

Ingredients

  • 1 medium lemon

  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 3 Tbsp. chopped pitted Castelvetrano olives

  • 2 Tbsp. drained nonpareil capers, chopped 

  • 2 Tbsp. finely chopped shallot 

  • 5 1/2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for grates and drizzling

  • 3/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. kosher salt, divided

  • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 5-oz. swordfish steaks (about 1 in. thick), patted dry

  • 1 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed

Directions

  1. Preheat grill or a grill pan to medium-high (400°F to 450°F) for 5 minutes and lightly oil grates. Zest lemon to yield 2 teaspoons zest. Halve lemon; set aside. 

  2. Stir together parsley, olives, capers, shallot, 3 tablespoons oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest in a medium bowl. 

  3. Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon lemon zest in a small bowl. Brush half
    of seasoning on 1 side of each steak. 

  4. Place steaks, seasoned side down, on grill. Brush remaining seasoning on top. Grill until grill marks appear, about 4 minutes. Flip and grill until a thermometer inserted in steaks reads 135°F and fish is mostly cooked through with a slightly pink center, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and tent with aluminum foil. 

  5. Meanwhile, toss asparagus with remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Grill, flipping often, until charred and tender, 4 to 6 minutes. 

  6. While asparagus is grilling, place halved lemon, cut side down, on grates. Grill, undisturbed, until charred, 1 to 2 minutes. Juice 1 half to yield 2 tablespoons juice; stir into parsley mixture. Cut remaining half into quarters. Spoon salsa over fish and asparagus. Serve with lemon quarters and drizzle with oil. 

Make-Ahead: The parsley-caper salsa can be made 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before serving.

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