Baked Swordfish Livornese
Baked Swordfish Livornese is a white-meaty fish that turns out exquisitely flavorful when topped and baked with a simple onion-tomato-olive sauce. The secret to its aromatic taste is in our 6-ingredient sauce which gives this swordfish its moist texture and a ton of flavor! If you love swordfish, then this recipe is for you!
Swordfish Livornese… But Even Better!
The flavors in this swordfish livornese are exquisite! It’s made with only a few fresh ingredients, and what we usually have on hand.
Plus, swordfish steaks are firm, white-meaty fishes and have a mildly sweet taste. They work perfectly with our Livornese-style recipe.
For our swordfish Livornese-style recipe, we decided to bake the swordfish, rather than cook the fish in a skillet. When you bake swordfish with our Livornese sauce on top, it turns out flavorful. In fact, you’ll be pleasantly surprised after you take your first bite! Also, when swordfish if baked, its white meat will be firm but tender to the touch, and flakes off with a fork. The meat is light, juicy and delicious.
Helpful Seafood Tip! This is a great seafood dish for the whole family, including the kids, since swordfish doesn’t contain any bones.
This recipe is also very similar to our mom’s recipe for her Cod Livornese. The only difference is that her cod livornese is cooked on the stovetop, rather than in the oven. Regardless, her recipe is totally delicious, so if you happen to love cod, be sure to try it soon.
What is Livornese?
The title “Livornese” is a term or a name for a typical Northern Italian stew or as we call it “the sauce,” and it is really a method for cooking fish, which originated in Livorno, Tuscany, a port city on the Ligurian Sea, Italy. They are known and most popular for their seafood dishes.
But, everyone who tries this recipe… will fall in love with swordfish – guaranteed!
Ingredients You Will Need
For our baked swordfish livornese recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Swordfish Steak – about 1 + 1/2 pounds fresh
- Lemon
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Fresh Basil Leaves – you will need a good handful
- Onion – one large onion
- Garlic Cloves
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
- Kalamata olives
What to Look for When Buying Swordfish?
When looking to buy swordfish for this recipe, we recommend asking the fishmonger for:
- A thick, center cut of swordfish, and it should be at least 1 +1/4 -inch thick, or more.
- It should have a flesh color to it, soft pink-white-ish.
- It should have a tight swirl in the flesh and it should be firm to the touch (not mushy).
- Lastly, ask if you can smell it? It should smell fresh – like the sea and not fishy.
Important Recipe Tips
- MARINATE THE FISH: Before you begin, you will need to marinate the swordfish steak with lemon juice on both sides (see photo above). Squeeze one half of a lemon on a plate. Then place the swordfish steak directly on top of the lemon juice. Followed by additional lemon juice on top, and allow it to marinate for a few minutes, and while you prepare the Livornese sauce.
- This will not only marinate the fish, but it will remove any “fishy” odor while baking. And it works every time!
- BAKING TIME: Keep an eye on it while it’s baking. All oven vary, and you don’t want to over bake the fish. It should be tender to the touch, and even flake off with a fork at the corner.
How to Make Baked Swordfish Livornese?
Baked Swordfish Livornese this way is relatively easy, and it turns out juicy and delicious tasting every time. Keep in mind, our full recipe card is located at the bottom. But, first let’s run through our three-step process to making this dish, so you’ll understand what’s involved before you start.
1. First Step is to Prepare the Sauce: You will need to sauté lots of fresh basil with onions, garlic, cherry tomatoes, and olives for 10 minutes, and on stove top.
2. Second Step: Is to bake the swordfish in the oven, “without the sauce” for 10 to 12 minutes.
3. The Final Step is to spoon the sauce on top and then finish baking the fish for additional 15 minutes.
QUICK TIP! I decided to cut the swordfish into 4 pieces before baking. So I can easily serve each portion with all the topping on it and avoid making a mess when serving.
A Delicious Seafood Dinner
Baked Swordfish Livornese makes a delicious meal for the whole family to enjoy. It’s elegant enough to entertain guests too.
If you love swordfish, then you’ll love our other recipe for Easy Baked Swordfish. It is baked with a delicious lemon and wine sauce, and it too is amazingly easy!
This recipe for Livornese is adaptable to cod, tilapia, snapper, and even Dover sole. Fresh swordfish is not cheap, but it’s worth the price. …Give it a try!
ENJOY!
Are you cooking or baking with us? If you make our delicious Baked Swordfish Livornese, let us know and leave a comment and a star rating on our recipe card! Have fun and snap a photo and hashtag it on Instagram @2sistersrecipes, and leave a comment here and on Pinterest if you like. We’d love to see what you cook!
More Delicious Seafood Recipes…
- Roasted Red Snapper – Italian Style
- Bake or Roast Branzino with Lemon
- Baked Flounder Filet Oreganata
- Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi
- Baked Halibut & Sea Bass Oreganata
- Grilled Whole Branzino
- Pan-Seared Salmon with Relish
Additional Livornese-Style Recipes:
Baked Swordfish Livornese
Baked Swordfish Livornese is a white-meaty fish that turns out exquisitely flavorful when topped and baked with a simple onion-tomato-olive sauce. It's very easy, simple and tasty! Making dinner enjoyable!
Ingredients
- 1 ex-large piece (1 + 1/2 pounds) of Swordfish steak
- 1 lemon - cut in half
- 4 Tbsp. olive oil - divided
- 12 fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 of a large onion - minced
- 3 garlic cloves - minced
- 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 16-ounces cherry tomatoes - sliced in halves
- 3/4 tsp. sea salt - divided
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives - sliced in halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190C). Grab a large baking dish, about 9 x 12-inch (or 2.5 to 3 qt). Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on the bottom. Set it nearby.
To PREPARE THE SWORDFISH:
- First, take one-half of a lemon and squeeze it onto a large plate. Grab the swordfish steak and lay it directly on top of the lemon juice on the plate. Next, squeeze the other half of the lemon over the swordfish and set it aside. This will not only marinate it, but it will remove any "fishy" order while baking.
TO MAKE THE LIVORNESE SAUCE:
- In a 10-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil on moderate heat.
- Toss in fresh basil and allow the basil to saute for one minute.
- Next, toss in the minced onion, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes, and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened.
- Then toss in the cherry tomatoes and kalamata olives and season with some salt. Cover with a lid and lower the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the tomatoes softened, stirring occasionally. When tomatoes are softened, turn off the heat. Taste the sauce, and season with salt and pepper to your taste. Keep covered.
TO BAKE THE SWORDFISH:
- Season the swordfish steak with some salt and garlic powder and transfer the swordfish into the prepared baking dish. ( Here is where you can cut the swordfish into 3 or 4 pieces, depending on how many servings you need).
- BAKE on the center rack, only for 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and place the baking dish on your stovetop, next to the skillet with the sauce. Uncover the skillet, and spoon the entire tomato mixture over the swordfish. Drizzle an additional tablespoon of olive oil over the sauce.
- Then transfer the baking dish back into the oven and CONTINUE to BAKE the swordfish for additional 15 minutes. ( Total baking time: 27 to 30 minutes). Swordfish is fully cooked it flakes off with a fork.
- Remove from oven and serve.
- yields: 4 to 5 servings
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 to 5 servings Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 333Total Fat: 18.5gSaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 68mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1.6gSugar: 2.9gProtein: 35.7g
Happy and Healthy Baking! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
xo Anna and Liz
Welcome! From Anna and Liz
We believe the kitchen is the center and the heart of the home. It is where we cook, eat, and unwind with family and friends, creating memorable traditions! Read more…
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Weeknight Dinners Made Easy
Tips & recipes for delicious meals . . . no matter your skill level!
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Weeknight Dinners Made Easy
Tips & recipes for delicious meals . . . no matter your skill level!