The Elegant Choice Ina Garten Caesar-Roasted Swordfish Recipe for Dinner

Caesar-roasted swordfish combines bold seasoning with tender fish in a dish that feels elevated yet simple.

Anchovy, garlic, and lemon deliver that signature Caesar bite without overpowering the fish.

Roasting ensures a perfectly cooked interior with a flavorful crust.

Serve it with greens or grains for a balanced plate.

The flavors pop in every bite, proving seafood doesn’t have to be complicated.

Easy prep makes it weeknight-friendly but dinner-party worthy.

Ingredients That Make Caesar-roasted Swordfish a Showstopper

• Swordfish Steaks: Fresh, meaty fish with a mild flavor, perfect for roasting and absorbing rich sauces. Wild-caught or sustainably sourced options are best.

• Garlic, Parsley, Anchovy Paste, Mustard: Classic flavor combination creating a bold, tangy base for the Caesar sauce. Fresh garlic provides the most intense flavor.
• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that helps bind the sauce and adds richness. Use high-quality, store-bought or homemade mayonnaise.
• Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice: Bright, citrusy elements that cut through the richness and enhance overall flavor. Fresh lemons provide the best taste.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for enhancing the fish's natural flavor. Use kosher or sea salt for better texture.
• Scallions: Fresh, mild onion flavor that adds a subtle green note and visual appeal. Thinly sliced for even distribution.
• Capers: Briny, salty garnish that provides a crispy texture when frizzled. Choose small, non-pareils for best results.
• Olive Oil: Used for frying capers and adding a smooth, rich undertone. Extra virgin olive oil recommended.

How to Roast Swordfish with a Caesar Kick

Step 1: Prepare Oven And Baking Surface

Crank up your oven to 260°C / 500°F. Clean the oven interior thoroughly. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.

Step 2: Create Zesty Caesar Sauce

• Fresh garlic
• Chopped parsley
• Anchovy paste
• Dijon mustard
• Mayonnaise
• Lemon zest
• Fresh lemon juice
• Salt
• Black pepper

Blend until smooth and creamy, creating a vibrant sauce.

Step 3: Season Swordfish Steaks

• Spread sauce on first side
• Flip fish
• Cover second side completely

Sprinkle chopped scallions over fish. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Roast Fish To Perfection

Slide baking sheet into preheated oven. Roast swordfish for 10-12 minutes until center is barely cooked. Remove from oven and tent with aluminum foil. Let rest on baking sheet for additional 10 minutes.

Step 5: Create Crispy Capers

Heat olive oil in small skillet over medium-high heat. Drop capers into hot oil. Fry for 30-60 seconds until they pop and turn golden and crisp.

Step 6: Plate And Garnish

• Lemon wedges
• Frizzled capers
• Reserved Caesar sauce

Serve immediately and savor the delightful flavors.

Tips to Keep Caesar-roasted Swordfish Moist and Flavorful

• Select Supreme Swordfish: Pick thick, center-cut steaks that guarantee uniform cooking and retain moisture for maximum flavor explosion.
• Prep Pristine Oven: Clean the oven thoroughly before roasting at high temperature to prevent unexpected smoke and ensure a seamless cooking experience.
• Blend Caesar Sauce Smoothly: Process the sauce until completely silky, eliminating any rough garlic bits and creating a perfectly balanced condiment.
• Master Precise Cooking Time: Watch the fish closely, removing from heat when the center remains slightly translucent, then tent with foil to allow gentle carry-over cooking.
• Transform Capers into Crispy Gems: Heat oil until scorching hot before adding capers, creating delightful salty cracklings that elevate the entire dish's texture and taste.

Store Your Swordfish Like a Pro Chef Would

• Vacuum Sealing: Protect the delicate swordfish by vacuum sealing individual portions in airtight bags. This method locks in freshness, prevents freezer burn, and extends storage life up to 3 months. Press out all air before sealing to maintain optimal texture and flavor.
• Flash Freezing: Spread swordfish pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they don't touch. Freeze for 1-2 hours until solid, then transfer to freezer-safe containers. Quick-freezing prevents ice crystals from damaging the fish's delicate meat structure and preserves its original taste.
• Marinade Storage: Keep leftover Caesar marinade in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator. Discard any marinade that has touched raw fish.

Caesar-roasted Swordfish Variations Worth Trying

• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Replace parsley with a mix of fresh oregano, thyme, and basil for a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired flavor profile.
• Spicy Cajun Kick: Incorporate Cajun seasoning and replace anchovy paste with hot sauce to create a bold, zesty version of the original recipe.
• Asian-Inspired Soy Glaze: Swap Caesar sauce with a blend of soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, and green onions for an umami-rich seafood experience.
• Smoky Chipotle Edition: Add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to the Caesar mixture for a smoky, slightly spicy alternative that transforms the dish's character.

One Powerful Finish for Caesar-roasted Swordfish Fans

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s Caesar-roasted swordfish, where Mediterranean flavors dance across premium seafood.

Salt-kissed steaks embrace zesty Caesar sauce, creating an elegant symphony of taste and texture.

Frizzled capers add unexpected crunch, elevating this dish from simple meal to gourmet experience.

Mediterranean influences shine through each carefully prepared component, promising restaurant-quality dining at home.

Swordfish’s robust profile melds seamlessly with tangy sauce, delivering complex flavor profiles that surprise and delight.

When familiar ingredients combine with expert technique, you unlock extraordinary culinary possibilities – share this recipe, comment with your twists, and inspire fellow home chefs to explore bold cooking adventures.

Why Caesar-roasted Swordfish Feels Bold and Fancy

• Blast Flavor in Minutes: This recipe transforms ordinary swordfish into a restaurant-quality dish with minimal effort, using a zesty Caesar sauce that delivers bold, tangy flavors in under 30 minutes.
• Crispy Textural Delight: The combination of roasted swordfish with frizzled capers creates an exciting contrast between the tender, succulent fish and the crunchy, salty caper garnish that adds unexpected excitement to every bite.
• Professional-Level Technique: Roasting at high temperature ensures a perfectly cooked fish with a beautifully caramelized exterior while keeping the inside moist and delicate, allowing home cooks to achieve a chef-worthy result with simple kitchen skills.
• Zero-Fuss Gourmet Meal: This recipe eliminates complicated steps and complicated techniques, making it accessible for busy home cooks who want to serve an impressive seafood dish without spending hours in the kitchen.

Ina Garten Caesar-roasted Swordfish Recipe

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4.6 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Caesar-roasted swordfish delivers Mediterranean coastal charm with restaurant-worthy elegance. Crisp Caesar dressing and perfectly seared fish promise a restaurant-quality meal you can masterfully create at home.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 lb (1.36 kg) center-cut swordfish steaks, ¾ to 1 inch thick, cut into 6 portions
• 2 tablespoons good olive oil

Sauce and Herb Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 ml) good mayonnaise
• ¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup (120 ml) chopped scallions, white and green parts (4 scallions)
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons drained capers
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Garnish:

• Lemon wedges, for serving

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Instructions

1. Prepare the kitchen workspace by positioning the oven rack in the middle position and heating the oven to 260°C / 500°F. Cover a baking tray with aluminum foil to facilitate easy cleanup.
2. Craft the robust Caesar emulsion by blending garlic, fresh parsley, anchovy paste, and Dijon mustard in a food processor until the garlic becomes finely textured. Incorporate mayonnaise, bright lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, / 6 grams salt, and ½ teaspoon / 3 grams black pepper, processing until the mixture achieves a silky, unified consistency.
3. Position the swordfish steaks onto the prepared tray, generously seasoning both surfaces with salt and pepper. Strategically set aside one-third of the Caesar sauce for final presentation. Methodically spread half the remaining sauce across one side of the fish, then carefully flip and repeat on the opposite side. Scatter chopped scallions over the marinated fish and allow to rest for 10 minutes, enabling flavor absorption.
4. Slide the tray into the preheated oven and roast for 10-12 minutes, monitoring until the fish center reaches a delicate, barely cooked state. Immediately remove and loosely tent with aluminum foil, letting the fish rest on the tray for an additional 10 minutes to retain moisture.
5. Meanwhile, create crispy capers by heating olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Introduce capers and sauté for 30-60 seconds, watching for them to pop and transform into a crunchy golden texture.
6. Transfer the swordfish to serving plates, embellishing with fresh lemon wedges, the frizzled capers, and the reserved Caesar sauce. Serve immediately to preserve the fish’s optimal temperature and texture.

Notes

• Select Premium Cuts: Thick, center-cut swordfish steaks guarantee succulent results with their even thickness and rich maritime flavor.
• Manage Oven Temperature: High-heat roasting demands a pristine oven surface to prevent unexpected smoking and maintain clean cooking conditions.
• Perfect Sauce Technique: Blending Caesar ingredients creates a silky-smooth consistency, eliminating chunky garlic fragments for a professional finish.
• Monitor Fish Doneness: Quick roasting prevents drying, allowing the swordfish to remain tender by removing from heat when center shows slight translucency.
• Crisp Caper Magic: Scorching hot oil transforms delicate capers into crunchy, salty bursts that elevate the dish’s overall texture and taste profile.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Fat: 50g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 3g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 46g
• Cholesterol: 120mg