• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Pasta Project logo

  • Home
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Pasta Types
  • Italy's Regions
  • About
  • SHOP
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Pasta Types
  • Italy's Regions
  • About Me
  • SHOP
×
Home » Recipes » Seafood & Lake Fish Pasta Recipes

Published: Nov 25, 2023 · Modified: Jan 24, 2024 by Jacqui

Pasta with Swordfish from Sicily


Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Bring a taste of Sicily to your table in under one hour with this authentic swordfish pasta. This stunning recipe combines swordfish with ripe cherry tomatoes, fried eggplant, aromatic herbs and lemon. This is a simple recipe packed with fresh Mediterranean flavor.

Malfadine pasta with swordfish, eggplant and cherry tomatoes in a bowl.

History

Pasta with swordfish is a very popular and typical Sicilian dish. In fact, swordfish plays a big part in Sicilian seafood cuisine. The Sicilians grill it, bake it, put it in pies, make involtini or carpaccio with it and serve it with pasta in a number of different ways.

The most traditional ways to eat swordfish pasta are either with eggplant, like in this recipe, or with the typical Mediterranean ingredients of garlic, capers, olives, tomatoes and peperoncino, as in my recipe for strozzapreti with swordfish.

However, there are also a few other delicious swordfish and pasta recipes from Sicily and other Southern regions which include ingredients such as pistachios, pine nuts, almonds, zucchini or breadcrumbs.

Swordfish pasta in a bowl.

Some recipes are ‘al bianco’, meaning without tomatoes and some are traditional to the province they originate from such as ‘alla Messinese’ from Messina; made with red onions, celery and green olives, as well as capers and tomatoes.

I particularly like this pasta with swordfish recipe because it really is a treat for the taste buds! It includes fried aubergine, which gives it that authentic Sicilian taste, along with fresh mint and some grated lemon rind. Both really add a distinctive flavor to the eggplant and the swordfish.

In Italy and most of the Mediterranean, swordfish can be found in abundance during the summer, so that’s when it is most often served at Italian tables. This swordfish pasta can also be eaten cold or tepid, if you use short pasta. If you like the idea of pasta, aubergines/eggplants and swordfish, then you are bound to love this combination.

Ingredients

Swordfish, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, garlic, lemon and mint on a kitchen counter.
  • Pasta: Long pasta varieties like mafaldine (reginette) or spaghetti are traditionally used when serving this dish hot. However, if you plan to enjoy the dish tepid or cold, short pasta types like casarecce or penne are excellent choices.
  • Swordfish Steaks: You can use both fresh or frozen swordfish. When selecting fresh swordfish, look for clean steaks with a slightly oceanic smell. The meat should be firm and spring back when pressed.
  • Eggplant: Choose eggplants that are firm with glossy, smooth skin. I used a Sicilian Prosperosa eggplant. These round Italian heirloom eggplants are meaty with a mild flavor. Of course, other eggplant varities are fine too.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: Use ripe cherry tomatoes for their sweet and slightly acidic flavor, complementing the swordfish and eggplant.
  • Garlic Cloves: Slightly browning the garlic before adding the swordfish will add a more robust flavor.
  • Fresh Mint Leaves: Use fresh mint over dried mint to get the full aromatic flavor. The leaves should be vibrant and green.
  • White Wine: A dry white wine will add the most depth of flavor.
  • Lemon zest: Choose organic unwaxed lemons, as we will use lemon zest.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Pick a high-quality olive oil as it forms the base of the sauce.
Ingredients for the swordfish pasta prepared and in bowls.

Expert Tips

Cooking the Swordfish: For the best texture and flavor, fry the swordfish until it's just cooked through. Avoid overcooking, as it can make the fish tough and dry.

Mint and Lemon Zest: Add these at the last minute to preserve their fresh and vibrant flavors. This will bring a burst of freshness to the dish, contrasting beautifully with swordfish and cooked vegetables.

Step by Step Instructions

1) Put a large pan of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil and bring to the boil again.

2) In a large frying pan, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the eggplant cubes and fry until golden brown, usually about 5-7 minutes.

Fried eggplant in a pan.

3) Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried eggplant onto paper towels to drain excess oil.

Fried eggplant draining on paper towels.

4) In the same pan, add the cherry tomatoes and sauté until they begin to soften, about 3-4 minutes. Then add them to the eggplant.

Cherry tomatoes cooking in a pan.

5) Give the pan a wipe with kitchen paper. Add a bit more olive oil and sauté the garlic cloves. Once the garlic starts to color, add the swordfish steaks.

6) Fry the swordfish cubes for about 2-3 minutes, turning half way through to ensure even cooking. Then, mix in the cooked tomatoes and eggplant to the pan, sautéing until the fish is fully cooked.

Garlic and swordfish cooking in a pan.

7) Pour in the white wine, increase the heat to high, and cook until the alcohol evaporates. Remove from heat and sprinkle in chopped mint and grated lemon zest. Let it sit to marinate briefly.

Swordfish and vegetables in a pan.

8) Meanwhile, cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Once cooked, quickly drain the pasta and combine it in the pan with the swordfish over a low heat for a minute.

Adding pasta to the swordfish and vegetable mixture.

9) Serve immediately if you are using long pasta, however this dish can also be eaten tepid or cold if made with short pasta.

Swordfish pasta garnished with mint in a bowl.

Storage and Leftovers

Allow the pasta with swordfish to cool to room temperature. Transfer the cooled pasta with swordfish to an airtight glass container and refrigerate. This dish will stay fresh and retain a good quality for up to 2 days.

For reheating, place the desired portion in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating. Avoid overheating the dish to stop the fish from becoming too dry.

FAQs

Do swordfish steaks have bones?

Swordfish steaks are typically sold either boneless or with a large central bone. Generally, they don't contain any smaller bones. When purchasing swordfish steaks, you may encounter a large, single bone in the middle, which is easy to remove. However, many markets and fishmongers also offer completely boneless options for convenience.

Do I need to salt the eggplant before cooking?

Although this used to be common practice, said to be necessary to remove bitterness, nowadays many chefs no longer do it as modern varities of eggplant are less bitter than in the past. I never salt my eggplants.

How Do I Know When the Eggplant is Perfectly Cooked?

Eggplant is perfectly cooked when it's soft throughout but not mushy. It should have a slightly browned exterior from the frying process and a tender interior. If you can easily pierce it with a fork without any resistance, it's done.

More Recipes You May Like:

  • Asparagus Carbonara
  • Homemade Chestnut Pasta with Pork and Cabbage
  • Homemade maltagliati with sausage and beans
  • Pasta with bean soup
  • Stuffed and baked lumaconi
  • Pasta alla Mediterranea

If you make this pasta with swordfish recipe I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Buon appetito!

This recipe was originally published in 2017, but it has been updated with new photos and text.

Pasta with swordfish in a bowl.

Pasta with Swordfish from Sicily

Jacqui
Bring a taste of Sicily to your table in under one hour with this authentic swordfish pasta. This stunning recipe combines swordfish with ripe cherry tomatoes, fried eggplant, aromatic herbs and lemon. This is a simple recipe packed with fresh Mediterranean flavor.
5 from 67 votes
Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian, Sicilian, Southern Italian
Servings 4
Calories 676 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 14 oz Reginette/Mafaldine pasta
  • 1 Eggplant (1 large or 2 small )
  • 10 oz Swordfish steaks fresh is better than frozen but you can use both
  • 2 cloves Garlic peeled
  • 7 oz Cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 1 handful Fresh mint leaves chopped (dried mint doesn’t work well)
  • ½ glass White wine
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 Lemon for grating
  • 3-4 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil

Instructions
 

Prepare the ingredients.

  • Wash the eggplant and cut it into cubes. Wash the swordfish steak, pat it dry with kitchen paper and cut into cubes about the same size as the eggplant after removing the skin and centre bone if necessary. Wash the tomatoes and cut them into halves. Peel the garlic, wash the mint and lemon.

Make the sauce.

  • Put a large pan of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil and bring to the boil again.
  • In a large frying pan, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the eggplant cubes and fry until golden brown, usually about 5-7 minutes.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried eggplant onto paper towels to drain excess oil.
  • In the same pan, add the cherry tomatoes and sauté until they begin to soften, about 3-4 minutes. Then add them to the eggplant after removing the kitchen paper.
  • Give the pan a wipe with kitchen paper. Add a bit more olive oil and sauté the garlic cloves. Once the garlic starts to color, add the swordfish steaks.
  • Fry the swordfish cubes for about 2-3 minutes, turning half way through to ensure even cooking. Then, mix in the cooked tomatoes and eggplant to the pan, sautéing until the fish is fully cooked.
  • Pour in the white wine, increase the heat to high, and cook until the alcohol evaporates. Remove from heat and sprinkle in chopped mint and grated lemon zest. Let it sit to marinate briefly.

Cook the pasta, finish and serve.

  • Meanwhile, cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Once cooked, quickly drain the pasta and combine it in the pan with the swordfish over a low heat for a minute.
  • Serve immediately if you are using long pasta, however this dish can also be eaten tepid or cold if made with short pasta.
Prevent your screen from going dark

Notes

  • This recipe can be made with other long pasta such as spaghetti or busiate or short pasta such as penne, rigatoni, casarecce, strozzapreti etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 676kcalCarbohydrates: 88gProtein: 27gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 70mgPotassium: 959mgFiber: 8gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 352IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Pasta with swordfish, Swordfish pasta
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Pin for Later:

Swordfish Pasta with Eggplant.

If you are interested in learning how to make homemade pasta and different types of gnocchi, check out my shop page for some great video online courses from my friends in Rome! Nothing beats learning to make pasta from Italians! Plus while you’re there why not order a copy of one of my pasta recipe cookbooks?!


More Seafood & Lake Fish Pasta Recipes

  • Linguine alle vongole.
    Linguine alle vongole recipe (pasta with clams)
  • Pasta with tuna Bolognese sauce.
    Garganelli Pasta with Tuna Bolognese Recipe.
  • La Calamarata recipe in a bowl.
    La Calamarata (Calamari Pasta) Recipe
  • Anchovies pasta recipes.
    16 Pasta with Anchovies Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 67 votes (36 ratings without comment)

    Tell us what you think Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Tisha says

    August 17, 2024 at 3:10 am

    Authentic flavor and a great dish for a family dinner. The recipe was so easy to follow

    Reply
  2. Criss says

    August 15, 2024 at 12:35 am

    This looks amazing! I made a similar pasta with swordfish recently, and the flavors were incredible. Your version sounds fantastic!

    Reply
  3. Nora says

    August 14, 2024 at 8:07 pm

    First time I made swordfish and it turned out perfectly! We will make it again soon!

    Reply
  4. Leslie says

    August 14, 2024 at 4:44 pm

    Love the Mediterranean flavor in this Swordfish pasta recipe!

    Reply
  5. Shelly says

    August 14, 2024 at 6:49 am

    My family loved it, great recipe. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Nicole Kendrick says

    August 13, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    My family really loved this recipe. I've never made swordfish in a pasta before, so I was hoping it would be as good as it looked. It was!

    Reply
  7. Mimi Rippee says

    April 26, 2024 at 4:53 pm

    This is a beautiful pasta dish. I can’t wait to get to Sicily later this year! Your rosemary bush is the largest one I’ve ever seen!
    http://www.chefmimiblog.com

    Reply
    • Jacqui says

      April 27, 2024 at 12:57 pm

      I'm sure you will love the seafood in Sicily Mimi! There are so many ways to enjoy swordfish there. I love this particular pasta recipe. It really is full of Sicilian flavours! My rosemary bush is pretty big eventhough we have cut it back a few times! I love that I can have fresh rosemary all year!

      Reply
  8. Hayley Dhanecha says

    December 04, 2023 at 11:17 am

    What an easy and simple recipe, loved all the ingredients in this pasta recipe that make this recipe unique.

    Reply
  9. Lisa Grant says

    December 04, 2023 at 6:19 am

    I love all the colors in this recipe. Just a fresh dinner!

    Reply
  10. Sean says

    December 04, 2023 at 4:31 am

    This is such a light and healthy meal. It is perfect for those who want a tasty meal that isn't too heavy.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Close up of Jacqui

Buon giorno and welcome to my pasta project! My name is Jacqui. I’m originally a Londoner but in 2003 life’s journey brought me to the beautiful Veneto region of Italy where…

More about me →

TOP ITALIAN FOOD BLOG

3rd place in Top 50 Italian Food Blogs Awards by Feedspot

Italian Food Blogs

FEATURED IN

A few website logos showing where the pasta project has been featured in: Insider, Wikipedia, Food52, Buzzfeed, The Guardian, Parade

FOLLOW ME

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

VISIT MY SHOP

Shop Icon

In my weekly newsletters, I write about my life in Italy, Italian places, traditions and culture, as well as other foods not just pasta! As a Pasta Project subscriber you'll also get a FREE recipe e-book series! Plus links to the latest recipes and posts.

So, sign up now and get the first recipe e-books to download!

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Legal Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Web Stories

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Contact

  • Copyright & Disclaimer/ Terms of Use

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 The Pasta Project

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.