• 34 ideas
  • Checked October 2026

What to Eat with Swordfish

Lemon and herb sauces, Sicilian vegetables, orzo and potatoes for a grilled swordfish steak.

What to Eat with Swordfish

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  1. CaponataServe it at room temperature, a spoonful beside the steak.
  2. Grilled zucchini with mintSlice it lengthways and grill it on the same fire.
  3. SalmoriglioWhisk it just before serving and spoon it over the hot steak.
  4. Orzo with lemonToss it with olive oil, lemon zest and parsley.
  5. Lemon caper butterMelt it in the pan the fish came out of and pour it over.

Next step Draw something sweet for afterPlan another night's dinner

All 34 ideas

Sauces and toppings 10

  • Anchovy butter Lay a cold slice on the steak and let it melt.
  • Bay leaves and lemon slices on the skewer Thread them between the cubes of fish before grilling.
  • Chermoula Brush some on before grilling and keep the rest for the table.
  • Chopped mint, garlic and vinegar Scatter it over the fish as soon as it leaves the grill.
  • Lemon caper butter Melt it in the pan the fish came out of and pour it over.
  • Romesco sauce Spread a spoonful on the plate and set the steak on top.
  • Salmoriglio Whisk it just before serving and spoon it over the hot steak.
  • Toasted breadcrumbs with garlic and parsley Sprinkle them on at the last moment so they stay crisp.
  • Toasted pine nuts and raisins Warm them in olive oil and spoon them over.
  • Tomato, olive and caper sauce Simmer the steak in it briefly, or spoon it over at the table.

Vegetables and salads 9

  • Boiled greens with lemon and olive oil Drain them well and dress them while warm.
  • Braised fennel Cook the wedges soft in olive oil and a little water.
  • Caponata Serve it at room temperature, a spoonful beside the steak.
  • Grilled zucchini with mint Slice it lengthways and grill it on the same fire.
  • Orange and fennel salad Slice both thin and add a few black olives.
  • Peperonata Stew the peppers soft and sweet, and serve them warm or cold.
  • Potato, tomato and caper salad Dress it with olive oil and oregano while the potatoes are warm.
  • Sweet and sour onions Glaze small whole onions and serve them cool.
  • Sweet and sour pumpkin Fry the slices, dress them with vinegar, sugar and mint, and serve cold.

Pasta, grains, beans and bread 10

  • Chickpea fritters (panelle) Fry them while the grill heats and pass them round with lemon.
  • Couscous Fluff it with a fork and let it soak up the juices on the plate.
  • Fava bean purée (maccu) Spread it on the plate, pour on olive oil and lay the fish over it.
  • Garlic and potato dip (skordalia) A cold spoonful beside the hot fish.
  • Orzo with lemon Toss it with olive oil, lemon zest and parsley.
  • Pasta with eggplant and tomato Serve a small bowl first, the fish to follow.
  • Rice balls (arancini) A small one each as a starter.
  • Roasted potatoes with rosemary Roast them in olive oil until the edges are crisp.
  • Saffron risotto Keep it loose and spoon it beside the steak.
  • Sesame bread Tear it to wipe up the sauce.

Something sweet after 3

  • Lemon granita Scrape it into cold glasses.
  • Pistachio gelato in a brioche bun Split the bun and fill it at the last moment.
  • Watermelon pudding (gelo di melone) Chill it in small cups and turn one out for each plate.

Drinks 2

  • Almond milk over ice Stir it and serve it very cold.
  • Blood orange juice with sparkling water Pour the juice first and add the water slowly.

How it works

Swordfish is firm, so what to eat with swordfish is closer to what goes with a grilled steak than with a soft fillet. These 34 ideas cover sauces, vegetables, salads, grains, bread, sweets and drinks.

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What is good to eat with swordfish?

Start with a sharp sauce. Salmoriglio, a southern Italian mix of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, garlic and herbs, is common in Sicily and Calabria with seafood, swordfish especially. The fish has been caught in the Strait of Messina since ancient times and belongs to the cooking there, so this list leans on Sicilian sides.

What to eat with swordfish steak

The meat is usually sold as steaks and often grilled, and it is firm enough to go on skewers. It is moist, with a slightly sweet taste. Choose one sauce, one vegetable and one starch: salmoriglio, grilled zucchini and orzo, or lemon caper butter, caponata and roasted potatoes.

  • Grill the vegetables on the same fire while the fish rests.

Questions and answers

What sauce goes with swordfish?

Salmoriglio first. Lemon caper butter, chermoula, romesco or a tomato, olive and caper sauce also stand up to a firm steak.

What vegetable goes with swordfish?

Grilled zucchini with mint, braised fennel, or boiled greens dressed with lemon and olive oil. For something richer, caponata, the Sicilian sweet and sour eggplant dish, or peperonata, a stew of peppers, tomatoes and onion.

What starch goes with swordfish?

Orzo with lemon, couscous, saffron risotto or roasted potatoes with rosemary. A small bowl of pasta with eggplant and tomato works as a first course before the fish.

What salad goes with swordfish?

Orange and fennel salad, sliced thin with a few black olives, or a warm potato, tomato and caper salad dressed with olive oil and oregano.

What do you drink with swordfish?

Without alcohol: blood orange juice topped up with sparkling water, or almond milk served very cold over ice. A lemon granita afterwards is half drink, half dessert.

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