Swordfish With Raisins And Roasted Lemon–Olive Chutney

the bite: Swordfish With Raisins And Roasted Lemon–Olive Chutney

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Sweet Salty & Sour

Olives, lemons, and raisins might sound like an odd combination, but it’s actually a classic Sicilian flavor profile. And really good things come from Sicily—like my mother-in-law! (Giovanna, this one’s for you.) The sweet raisins, salty olives, and sour charred lemons are particularly delicious spooned over swordfish, their lively flavors counterbalancing the hearty, buttery fish. All that’s missing? A little crunch, which comes from a sprinkling of Marcona almonds just before serving.

Recipe from Cook Beautiful | Photography by Johnny Miller

Swordfish With Raisins And Roasted Lemon–Olive Chutney

Athena Calderone, Cook Beautiful

Ingredients

Serves 4
For the chutney:
- 1⁄3 cup (50 g) golden raisins
- 1⁄3 cup (75 ml) white wine vinegar
- 2 lemons, cut into 1⁄4-inch-thick (6-mm-thick) rounds, ends and seeds discarded
- 2⁄3 cup (165 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1⁄2 cup (75 g) castelvetrano olives, roughly chopped
- 2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 3⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly cracked pepper
For the swordfish:
- 2 (12-ounce/340-g) swordfish steaks, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
- salt and freshly cracked pepper
- extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 1⁄4 cup (35 g) salted marcona almonds, roughly chopped
- a few sprigs fresh parsley, for serving

Method

Make the chutney:
Preheat the oven to broil.
Place the raisins in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar over medium heat until steaming. Pour the vinegar over the raisins and soak until they are plump, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, discarding the vinegar.
In a bowl, toss the lemon rounds with a drizzle of oil until evenly coated. Spread the lemons on a baking sheet in a single layer and broil on high until slightly charred, 7 to 8 minutes. Let them cool slightly, then chop the lemons into small pieces. Transfer them to a bowl and stir together with the oil, raisins, olives, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, honey, and salt. Season with freshly cracked pepper.
Make the swordfish:
Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Drizzle the pan with oil and immediately add the sh to the skillet. Cook the sh until golden and cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.
Just before serving, spoon the relish over the swordfish and scatter it with the almonds. Garnish with the parsley and offer extra relish on the side.