Grilled swordfish with lemon, garlic and oregano — a Mediterranean recipe

Swordfish is one of the Mediterranean’s most prized fish — firm, sweet flesh with no fine bones, ideal for the grill. This simple recipe with a marinade of lemon, garlic and oregano highlights its natural flavor without covering it.

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

• 4 swordfish steaks (about 200 g each, 2–3 cm thick)
• 60 ml extra virgin olive oil
• Juice of 2 lemons + 1 lemon cut into wedges for serving
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano (or fresh oregano leaves)
• Coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• A little fresh chopped parsley, for garnish

Preparation steps:

1. Dry the swordfish steaks well with kitchen paper and place them in a shallow dish.
2. Prepare the marinade: mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour it over the fish and leave to marinate for 15–30 minutes in the refrigerator (no longer, because the lemon begins to “cook” the fish).
3. Heat the grill or a grill pan well to a high temperature. Brush the grates with a little oil so the fish does not stick.
4. Grill the steaks for 3–4 minutes on each side, until golden lines form and the flesh becomes white and tender. Do not overcook — swordfish dries out quickly.
5. Let them rest for 2 minutes, then drizzle with a little fresh olive oil, lemon juice and parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and a green salad.

Preparation time: 15 minutes (+ 15–30 minutes marinating). Cooking time: 8–10 minutes. Servings: 4.

Illustrative photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).