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Cuisine Marrakech

Moroccan · Seafood

Swordfish Brochettes

Firm, meaty swordfish cubes marinated in chermoula and threaded onto skewers grill beautifully over charcoal, a favourite at Moroccan Atlantic-coast grill stands where fresh swordfish is landed daily.

Prep
20 min
Cook
10 min
Total
30 min
Serves
4
Level
Medium
Swordfish Brochettes

Ingredients

  • 700 g swordfish, cut into 3 cm cubes
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Small bunch coriander and parsley
  • 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika
  • Juice of 1 lemon and 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 green pepper and 1 onion, cut into chunks (optional, for skewering)
  • Salt

Method

  1. 1

    Make the marinade

    Blend the garlic, herbs, cumin, paprika, lemon juice, oil and salt into a loose chermoula.

  2. 2

    Marinate

    Toss the swordfish cubes in the chermoula and marinate 20–30 minutes.

  3. 3

    Thread the skewers

    Thread the fish onto skewers, alternating with pepper and onion chunks if using.

  4. 4

    Grill

    Grill over hot charcoal or a grill pan for 2–3 minutes per side until just cooked through and lightly charred.

  5. 5

    Serve

    Serve hot with lemon wedges and khobz bread.

Chef's tips

  • Don't over-marinate — the lemon in chermoula can start to 'cook' the fish if left too long.
  • Swordfish is forgiving on the grill but still dries out if overcooked; pull it as soon as it's opaque throughout.

Frequently asked questions

What other fish works for brochettes?

Tuna and monkfish are good substitutes since they're firm enough to hold together on skewers.