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Ginger Garlic Swordfish

Name: Ginger-Garlic Swordfish
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter (room temperature); 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley; 1 clove garlic (minced); ½ teaspoon ginger (grated); ⅕ teaspoon crushed red pepper; ½ teaspoon lemon peel (grated); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 12 ounces swordfish (fillets should be 6-7 ounces each); sea salt (to taste)

Published: Apr 14, 2021 · Modified: Dec 31, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

4.66 from 292 votes

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Pan-Roasted Swordfish Steak was always a big hit in my restaurant days and I always found different ways to serve this delicious sportfish.

My ginger garlic topping is as flavorful as it is aromatic, and I could count on orders coming in when this dish was served to a nearby table.

overhead view of two pan roasted swordfish steaks topped with garlic ginger topping on a bed of spinach on a white platter

One of my latest requests was what to do with swordfish? Swordfish can be a disaster if overcooked and is really a fairly bland fish (if it’s fresh), so you can have fun adding in very flavorful ingredients. Marinating is always an option, but it takes a little more thought and time.

I always have friends ask me, what’s the best way to cook fish? While my favorite way is the simplicity of Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice, there are times that I add additional flavors to spice things up a bit! After all, Variety is the Spice of Life.

What Ingredients do I need to make Pan Roasted Swordfish?

overhead view of ingredients to make pan roasted swordfish

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Pan-Roasted Swordfish with Compound Butter. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

You only need a few ingredients to make this delicious swordfish steak. Butter, fresh Italian parsley, garlic, ginger, lemon peel, red pepper flakes, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and of course swordfish steaks.

How do I make Compound Butter?

Before you start cooking the swordfish, prepare the compound butter you’ll be using at the end of the preparation.

two images showing how to make compound butter

Compound butter is made by mixing additional elements, such as herbs, spices or aromatic liquids, into softened butter. For my compound butter, I used minced garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, chopped Italian parsley, grated lemon peel, and freshly grated ginger.

You can easily swap out ingredients to change up the compound butter, make it your own and have fun experimenting with the flavors.

Can I save compound butter for later use?

Yes, you can. One of the ways to save compound butter to use in other recipes is by reforming the butter into logs using plastic wrap or parchment paper. That way you can store it until needed. You can also place it into serving crocks for table use.

Remember recipes are guidelines. Add your favorite flavors to make your signature compound butter. Have fun and experiment with the flavors.

**Compound butter can be kept in the refrigerator for up 5 days. Compound butter can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What are Compound Butters good for?

Using compound butter is a great way to spice things up with your cooking. You can use compound butter on fish, chicken, pork, or beef, adding another layer of flavor to your dish.

Compound butter is also a wonderful addition to vegetables, rice, noodles and they taste great on bread.

How do I make Pan Roasted Swordfish Steak?

two swordfish steaks salted on a white platter

Now it’s time to get the Swordfish ready. Rinse and pat dry the swordfish with paper towels. Salt the swordfish generously using your favorite sea salt (kosher salt can also be used).

2 images showing how to cook the swordfish

Place an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and when hot add one tablespoon of olive oil and the swordfish, salted side down. Sear the swordfish for 1-2 minutes or until the seared swordfish has a nice color.
Turn the swordfish over, and drain out any excess oil from the pan. Carefully add a few tablespoons of water to the pan and place the pan in a preheated 400-degree oven.

**Roast the swordfish until just cooked through, about 6-8 minutes or until desired doneness.

How do I know if the swordfish is thoroughly cooked?

The easiest way to tell if the swordfish is done is by using an instant-read thermometer. The temperature should read 130°F for medium, 135°F for medium-well or 140 to 145°F for well-done.

Another way to tell if your swordfish is thoroughly cooked is by inserting the tines of a fork into the thickest portion of the swordfish at a 45° angle. Gently twist the fork and pull up some of the fish. If it flakes easily, without resistance, the fish is done.

two images showing how to cook the compound butter

Transfer the seared swordfish to a serving dish. I like serving my swordfish with wilted spinach, but feel free to use your vegetable or grain.
Add seasoned butter mixture to the same skillet. Allow it to cook slightly over medium-high heat until melted and bubbling (1-2 minutes).

overhead view of a pan roasted swordfish steak topped with garlic ginger topping on a bed of spinach on a white platter

Spoon the seasoned butter over top of the cooked swordfish and serve with your favorite side dishes. My Pan-roasted swordfish is seared in a pan and finished in the oven just like we did in the restaurant!

*You can do this fish in the oven for the entire cooking process, but I do like to sear the swordfish before finishing in the oven. You can also add the butter directly to swordfish before it goes in the oven instead of cooking the compound butter in a pan.

**This swordfish can also be prepared on the gas grill. Use a saute pan on the grill to cook the topping and add the grilled swordfish to the pan to serve.

What other fish can I use instead of Swordfish?

Compound butter is a wonderful way to enhance any fish that may be on the drier side. Tuna, shark, mahi-mahi, and red snapper are also good choices. But truth be told compound butter is a delicious way to dress up your favorite fish. My wife loves it with flounder.

pan roasted swordfish with topping on a bed of spinach on a white plate

Who’s ready for dinner? My pan-roasted swordfish is perfect for date night or entertaining.

Recipe FAQ’s

How well done should I cook swordfish?

Overcooking any fish is an easy way to ruin it. Swordfish is not as forgiving as salmon, so it’s important to cook swordfish to medium well, cooked to the point where it is just cooked through but still remains juicy.

Is Swordfish healthy?

Swordfish is an excellent source of selenium, a micronutrient that offers cancer-fighting and heart health benefits. It’s protein-rich and loaded with niacin, vitamin B12, zinc and Omega-3. It’s also low in fat and calories which makes swordfish a guilt-free choice. when it comes to seafood.

Should I rinse the swordfish steak?

My thoughts are a quick rinse for any fish under cold running water is always a good thing to do. Pat the rinse fillet dry with paper towels before seasoning and cooking.

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overhead view of a swordfish steak topped with garlic ginger topping on a bed of spinach on a white platter

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4.66 from 292 votes