Swordfish With Scallions and Cracked Peppercorns

Swordfish With Scallions and Cracked Peppercorns
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(42)
Comments
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This is the sort of dish to cook in the early days of spring when, as Florence Fabricant put it, "freshness, greenery and a touch of peppery spice are the most tempting." Ms. Fabricant brought the recipe to The Times in a 1991 review of "Cooking for All Seasons," by Jimmy Schmidt, then chef and owner of the Rattlesnake Club and Tre Vite Restaurants in Detroit.

Featured in: FOOD; A Chef's Ideas for Accenting Spring Ingredients

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1cup fish stock
  • 1cup dry white wine
  • cups heavy cream
  • 1bunch scallions, green part only, chopped
  • 1tablespoon whole black peppercorns, cracked
  • 1tablespoon whole white peppercorns, cracked
  • ¼cup Sichuan peppercorns, cracked
  • 4swordfish steaks, 6 to 8 ounces each, trimmed of skin and fat
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼cup snipped fresh chives
  • 4red radishes, thinly sliced
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

684 calories; 46 grams fat; 24 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 13 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 45 grams protein; 1047 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat broiler.

  2. Step 2

    In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the stock and the wine. Bring to a simmer over high heat and cook until reduced to one-half cup, about eight minutes. Add the cream and cook until reduced to one cup, about 10 minutes longer. Remove from heat, add the scallion greens and set aside for five minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Transfer the cooled mixture to a blender and purée until smooth. Strain into a clean saucepan.

  4. Step 4

    Mix the peppercorns together in a small bowl, then divide them among the swordfish steaks, pressing them into the surface of the fish on one side. Place the fish, pepper side up, on a lightly oiled broiling pan and broil it to the desired degree of doneness, about four to six minutes, or longer, depending on the thickness of the fish and the heat of the broiler. Do not turn the fish.

  5. Step 5

    While the fish is cooking, return the sauce to a simmer and reduce it for about two minutes, until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add salt to taste.

  6. Step 6

    To serve, spoon some of the sauce on each four warm plates. Sprinkle the chives and radish slices over the sauce, then place a swordfish steak on top. Serve immediately.

Ratings

4 out of 5
42 user ratings
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Comments

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The sauce is really excellent! The application of the cracked pepper (recognizing that Szechuan “pepper” is not really pepper) is very disappointing. The pepper absolutely overwhelms the swordfish. But I LOVE the sauce! The sauce pairs well with the radishes and it would be great with lightly broiled or poached cod or halibut. Leave the cracked pepper as a condiment that can be applied by each person as their taste suggests.

This recipe is absolutely phenomenal. A new spring standard in our house.

A terrific recipe. We skipped the straining after the blending step as it seemed unnecessary. Added a squeeze of lemon juice before serving. It turned out amazing.

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