Moroccan Swordfish on Creamy Polenta with Coriander & Lemon Oil
This Moroccan swordfish recipe is a wonderful marriage of flavors and cultures.
Some will claim swordfish is a very boring fish, and in all honesty it is a bit simple on its own. However it is that simple flavor that I find so appealing about swordfish as it can be turned into virtually any style of recipe you want.
Some fish, salmon for instance, is a beautiful fish but due to its rich distinct prominent flavor it is not as versatile as our humble sword. Imagine either fish with a nice herbed pilaf and a classic beurre blanc, but don’t try putting both into a salty sweet Chinese stir fry.
In this recipe I have used a tender piece of sword as a platform to get across some very distinct Moroccan flavors, served it on some soft polenta, topped it with some Greek inspired cucumber mint yoghurt and dressed it all with a unique coriander and caraway oil dressing.
Enjoy!
Moroccan Swordfish on Creamy Polenta with Coriander and Lemon Oil
Ingredients
Swordfish:
- 4 swordfish steaks
- Moroccan spice mix
- vegetable oil
- sea salt flakes
- pepper grinder
Polenta:
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1½ cups polenta
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 ½ cups fresh cream
- 2 tablespoons parsley
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- white wine
- sea salt flakes
- pepper grinder
Yoghurt:
- 3/4 thick European style yoghurt
- 1/2 Lebanese cucumber
Instructions
Swordfish:
- Best if marinated at least 24 hrs in advance.
- Mix some salt and pepper into the Moroccan spice mix.
- Rub each one of steaks with a fair bit of the mix on both sides and then place them into a shallow dish of vegetable oil, ensuring they are completely covered with the oil, place in refrigerator for at least 24 hrs.
Swordfish:
- Combine the yoghurt, cucumber, mint, coriander and a touch of salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.
Dressing:
- Toast the caraway seeds in a dry pan until fragrant, remove from the pan and allow to cool slightly.
- In a food processor blend the seeds until broken, add the coriander leaves, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and pepper and process on high whilst slowly pouring in some olive oil until a nice glossy green consistency.
Polenta:
- Warm the milk and cream together in a medium saucepan over low heat.
- In a medium to large saucepan sauté the onion and garlic over medium heat until soft and translucent.
- Turn the heat up to high and evaporate a good splash of white wine in the saucepan.
- Once most of the wine has disappeared add half the cream and milk and bring to the boil, stir in the polenta and reduce to a simmer and continue to stir.
- As the polenta becomes hard to stir, slowly add in some more cream and milk and continue to stir.
- Taste the polenta as you cook it and once the texture is smooth and no longer granular, stir in the parmesan cheese, parsley and season to taste.
- Unless you prefer your polenta quite sloppy and creamy you should have a bit of milk and cream left over.
Final Preparation and Assembly:
- Preheat oven to 180 ℃ (350 ℉).
- Remove the fish from the marinating oil and allow them to drain briefly.
- In a non-stick fry pan sear the swordfish steaks for a minute on each side and transfer them to the oven for a further 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile return the polenta to low heat, stir in some more cream and milk if required.
- Arrange the polenta evenly in the centre of the plates, place the sword fish on top of the polenta, dollop a tbsp of the yoghurt mix on the fish and then drizzle some of the dressing over it all, allowing some to pool around and the polenta.
Notes
Related: Swordfish in Sweet and Sour Sauce
Related: Mediterranean Food: 30 Iconic Dishes You Should Try
Related: Best 25 Moroccan Dishes w/ Recipes
Related: Rabbit Stew with Fried Polenta
