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Grilled Swordfish with Charmoula
© Melanie Acevedo

Grilled Swordfish with Charmoula

Contributed by Quick From Scratch Fish & Shellfish
  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • FAST

Charmoula is a flavorful Moroccan tomato sauce flavored with cumin, lemon, and plenty of cilantro or parsley, and it couldn't be easier to make. Just throw the ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree.

Plus:

  1. 3/4 cup canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree
  2. 5 tablespoons olive oil
  3. 3 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  4. 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  5. 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  6. 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  7. 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  8. 1 teaspoon salt
  9. 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
  10. 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  11. 4 swordfish steaks, about 1 inch thick (about 2 pounds in all)
  1. Light the grill or heat the broiler. Put the tomatoes in a blender or food processor and add 4 tablespoons of the oil, the lemon juice, cumin, paprika, oregano, ginger, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt, 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper, and the parsley. Blend just until the mixture becomes a coarse puree.
  2. Coat the swordfish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Grill or broil the fish for 4 minutes. Turn and cook until golden brown and just done, about 4 minutes longer. Serve the sauce alongside.
Notes Fish Alternatives Cod, halibut, tilefish, mahimahi, mako shark, sturgeon, tuna—just about any fish steaks can stand in for the swordfish.

Suggested Pairing

Choose a Pinot Blanc from Alsace in France or a Pinot Gris from Oregon; both are delightful, easy-drinking white wines that will have enough body and the requisite moderate acidity to pair with the spicy tomato sauce.