Swordfish is a cornerstone food throughout the Mediterranean, and this Spanish recipe may be one of the finest ways to cook sword anywhere. The meaty fish, smoked paprika, pine nuts, garlic and parsley all meld into a rich, savory dish that takes you right to the sunny shores of the Costa Brava in Catalonia. I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t swordfish endangered? No. Or at least it’s not endangered anywhere around the United States. The various fish watchdog organizations all give consumers the green light to eat as much swordfish as they want, provided it was caught in North American or Hawaiian waters. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch gives American sword either a “best choice” or “good alternative” rating, depending on how it’s caught. If you’ve never worked with swordfish, it is dense and meaty. It also has an inedible rubbery skin that must be removed. When shopping for sword, pay attention to the bloodline, that red patch of meat in the steak. It should be red. If it is brown, the fish is old. Good alternatives to swordfish, if you can’t find it, are farm-raised sturgeon, yellowfin tuna or albacore, tilefish, mahi mahi or even shrimp. I often use leopard shark I catch myself, but many commercially caught sharks are not faring well, so I don’t recommend you buy shark for this or any other dish. This is a recipe that comes together very fast, so have everything you need ready. Serve with crusty bread and either a crisp white wine, a dry rose or a glass of ice cold, very dry fino sherry. When the swordfish is cooked, remove it to a bowl and reserve. Spanish Shark with Smoked Paprika - from Hunter Angler Gardener Cook Octopus with Paprika - from Leite’s Culinaria Grilled Swordfish with Citrus Herb Crust - from Steamy Kitchen
