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Tonight’s dinner is swordfish on the grill. I live in an area where grilling is an option all year round and many readers who live in the north can still grill through most of the fall. If an outdoor grill is not an option, certainly an indoor one would work well for swordfish. Meaty type fish, like swordfish and tuna, take well to grilling.

The recipe I use for swordfish is an old Italian style recipe for cooking fish over a fire and lots of flavor is added by marinating and topping the grilled fish with a fresh tasting sauce. I like to make the cooking easy by placing the fish on a sheet of heavy-duty foil. This prevents the fish from falling apart and protects the topping I like to add.

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Grilled Swordfish with Lemon Sauce

For 2 servings (recipe is easily doubled and tripled)

  •  2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Swordfish Steak, at Least 1/2 inch thick and about 10 oz
  • 1 large clove garlic, sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup Panko crumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • Lemon Sauce, recipe below

Directions

Place swordfish in a glass dish, scatter garlic over the fish and pour the olive oil over all. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

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When ready to grill:

Remove the garlic from the fish.

Place a sheet of heavy foil on a baking sheet and poke a few holes in the foil.

Combine the panko crumbs and Italian seasoning.

Place the swordfish on the foil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Press half the panko crumbs onto the fish. Turn the fish over and press on the remaining panko.

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Heat an outdoor grill to high. Slide the foil with the fish still on it onto the grill grates. Lower heat to medium.

Cook about 8-10 minutes until the crumbs begin to brown the and the fish is cooked through. Do not turn fish. Remove the fish to a serving plate and pour the lemon sauce over fish.

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Lemon Sauce

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons hot water
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano

Whisk thoroughly. If made ahead, warm in the microwave when ready to serve.

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Roasted Potato Wedges

2-3 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 large baking potatoes, unpeeled
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Scrub the potatoes, cut them in half lengthwise, then cut each half in thirds lengthwise. You’ll have 6 long wedges from each potato.

Place the potatoes in a baking pan with the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and oregano. With clean hands, toss all the ingredients together, making sure the potatoes are covered with oil.

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Spread the potatoes in a single layer with 1 cut-side down.

Bake the potatoes for 30 to 35 minutes, turning to the other cut side after 20 minutes. Bake until they are lightly browned, crisp outside, and tender inside. Sprinkle with salt and serve.

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Romano Green Beans Sautéed with Tomato

During the summer, when these Italian beans are plentiful, I froze several pounds to use later in the year.

Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups Romano beans
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Half a large fresh tomato, diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Directions

Rinse the beans under cold running water. Drain, leaving any water clinging to the beans. Trim the ends and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil.

Once the oil is hot, add the beans, garlic, shallots, oregano leaves, salt and pepper to taste.

Sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently until the beans are tender but retain some crispness, about 10 to 12 minutes.  

Remove the pan from heat and let the beans cool slightly. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and tomato. Allow the dish to cool to room temperature.