Swordfish with tomatoes and fennel
Swordfish has a slightly sweet, mild flavor. The texture is firm and meaty, so it is a good fish for grilling. I actually grilled the swordfish - see the notes below.
Yield: 4-6 servingsPrep Time:
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Ingredients:
| 2 | ( 3/4 - to 1-pound) swordfish steaks |
| salt | |
| freshly ground black pepper | |
| 3 tablespoons | olive oil |
| 1 clove | garlic, thinly sliced |
| 1 1/2 teaspoons | fennel seeds |
| 1/2 cup | white wine |
| 1/2 pound | whole cherry tomatoes |
| 2 tablespoons | slivered basil leaves |
Directions:
1. Pat the swordfish steaks dry with a paper towel on both sides. Season each side with a pinch each of salt and pepper and set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil, garlic and fennel seeds in a skillet over medium heat until the garlic softens and becomes fragrant, about 3 minutes.
3. Lay the swordfish steaks on top of the garlic and fennel seeds and cook until they turn white on the cooked side, 5 minutes. Turn the steaks over, laying them on top of any excess garlic and fennel seeds and cook another 5 minutes.
4. Add the white wine and tomatoes, cover the pan tightly and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook until the meat is easily penetrated with a skewer or paring knife (the swordfish must be well-done or it will be fibrous). Timing will vary depending on the thickness of the steaks -- thin steaks may take less than 5 minutes while very thick steaks may take as long as 15 minutes.
5. Remove the lid and transfer the swordfish to a heated platter. Increase the heat under the skillet to high and cook until the liquid in the pan reduces to a syrupy sauce, about 5 minutes. Pour any liquid that has collected in the platter into the sauce and stir in the basil.
6. Pour the sauce over the swordfish steaks and serve immediately.
NOTES: I grilled the swordfish, so here is what I did:
1. Using a wood plank for grilling, soak as per directed.
2. Follow step one.
3. Heat the grill.
4. Make the sauce by following step 2 and 4 (without the swordfish in the pan)
5. Add the fish to the wood plank and grill. Depending on the thickness of the swordfish, cook it as in Step 4.
6. Meanwhile, as in step 5, continue to reduce the sauce.
7. Serve swordfish with the tomato/fennel sauce.
Source: latimes.com
