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Bon Appétit

Swordfish With Asparagus and Beans

4.9

(22)

Swordfish with asparagus and greens on a platter and bowl set on a white table
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua

Swordfish is perfect for hot-and-fast applications like this springy skillet from Ali Slagle’s cookbook I Dream of Dinner (So You Don’t Have To) because it cooks quickly without drying out. Swap in another fatty fish—like mahi-mahi or salmon—and whatever crunchy vegetables (like green beans or snap peas) and small white beans (like navy or Great Northern) you have on hand. Serve alongside orzo, Israeli couscous, bulgur, or crusty bread for sopping up the lemony juices.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

Zest and juice of 2 lemons

1

tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

½

cup plus 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

4

1”-thick swordfish or mahi-mahi steaks (about 1½ lb. total), patted dry, cut into 1” cubes

1

lb. asparagus, woody stems trimmed, cut into ½” pieces

1

garlic clove, thinly sliced

2

15-oz. cans small white beans, (such as navy or Great Northern), rinsed

½

cup tender herbs (such as mint, dill, basil, and/or parsley), plus more for serving

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Whisk lemon zest, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and ½ cup oil in a small bowl to combine; season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.

    Step 2

    Season fish all over with salt and pepper. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium. Add asparagus, garlic, beans, and ¼ cup water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is crisp-tender and beans are warmed through, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in 2 Tbsp. vinaigrette. Reserve skillet.

    Step 3

    Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium. Cook fish, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and flesh flakes easily with a fork, 5–7 minutes.

    Step 4

    Add fish and ½ cup herbs to bean mixture and stir once. Drizzle with more vinaigrette and season with more salt and pepper. Just before serving, scatter more herbs on top.

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Recipes excerpted with permission from ‘I Dream of Dinner (So You Don’t Have To)’ By Ali Slagle. Copyright © 2022 By Alexandra Slagle. Published by Clarkson Potter. 

Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.org
Explore Bon AppétitDinnerWeeknightEasyQuickOne-Pot MealsGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeSwordfishFishSeafoodMahi-MahiAsparagusVegetableNavy BeanBeanWhite BeanMain
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Reviews (22)

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  • Easy and delicious! When I make it again, I'll stir fry the asparagus and garlic separate from the beans, then add he beans to warm them. I followed the directions, against my better judgement, and the beans turned to mush and the asparagus was fine but coated in smooshed beans. Used basil, oregano, and chives...dill would be ideal. Leftovers are delicious today with extra lemon.

    • Julie

    • Carson City, NV

    • 6/21/2024

  • Easy to make, but lacked flavor. We won’t make it again.

    • SD

    • Seattle

    • 6/9/2024

  • Made this in Maui with fresh-caught mahi-mahi. Divine & so easy!

    • Anonymous

    • Volcano, CA

    • 3/12/2024

  • This was a delicious recipe. I lightly dusted the swordfish with flour before frying and it was it came out slightly crispy.

    • Anonymous

    • Oak Park, Illinois

    • 2/27/2024

  • I've made this recipe twice. Once I halved the ingredients and the other time I made it with the full amounts. It turned out better halved - i think because the veggies shed less water? I'm not sure but it was significantly better halved. In any case it's an excellent recipe and pretty easy to make.

    • mingletoes

    • Oakland, CA

    • 9/30/2023

  • Easy and delicious.

    • Michele H.

    • Brooklyn NY

    • 3/18/2023

  • Outstanding! Refreshing, tasty and most of all - quick and easy. Definitely part of the rotation.

    • Mindy847

    • Dallas

    • 3/16/2023