Grilled Swordfish Souvlaki with Olive Tapenade

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Palace of Knossos

📍 Where this dish comes from: Crete · Palace of Knossos
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Grilled Swordfish Souvlaki with Olive Tapenade, plated and ready to serve

Swordfish is one of the great grilling fish — its dense, meaty texture holds a skewer perfectly and develops beautiful caramelization over high heat. Threaded with cherry tomatoes and grilled simply with lemon and oregano, then served alongside a bold Kalamata olive tapenade, this is Greek coastal cooking at its most confident. Elegant enough for company, fast enough for Tuesday.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Grilled Swordfish Souvlaki with Olive Tapenade

Grilled Swordfish Souvlaki with Olive Tapenade

Swordfish is one of the great grilling fish -- its dense, meaty texture holds a skewer perfectly and develops beautiful caramelization over high heat.
Print Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 415kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs fresh swordfish steak cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 16 cherry tomatoes
  • Salt and cracked black pepper
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives pitted
  • 2 tbsp capers drained
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley
  • Pinch of chili flakes

Instructions

  • Tapenade: Pulse all ingredients in a food processor until roughly chopped -- keep it slightly textured, not pureed. Refrigerate.
  • Toss swordfish with olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper. Marinate 20 minutes (no more -- lemon will start cooking the fish).
  • Thread swordfish alternating with cherry tomatoes onto skewers.
  • Grill on high heat 3 minutes per side -- swordfish cooks fast and should be just opaque at the center. Overcooked swordfish is dry; pull it while there is still a hint of pink.
  • Serve immediately with tapenade spooned alongside.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 415kcal | Protein: 38g | Fat: 26g | Fiber: 1.5g
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Cooking Grilled Swordfish Souvlaki with Olive Tapenade in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • Swordfish is one of the most nutrient-dense fish available — rich in omega-3 DHA and EPA, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.
  • Kalamata olives deliver hydroxytyrosol, one of the most potent antioxidants known, with documented effects on LDL oxidation and arterial inflammation.
  • Capers provide quercetin and rutin — two flavonoids with antihistamine and cardiovascular protective properties.

Pairs Well With

  • Maroulosalata — Greek Romaine Salad with Dill
  • Horta Vrasta — Greek Wild Greens
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