Grilled Pineapple and Swordfish Kebabs with Cilantro-Lime Rice
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Grilled Pineapple and Swordfish Kebabs may sound a bit exotic but they are incredibly easy, nutritious, and delicious! For great results, after marinating the swordfish in garlic and lime, BBQ grill it, before adding it to the skewers along with pineapple and peppers. These kebabs taste amazing served with cilantro-lime rice.
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Grilled Pineapple and Swordfish Kebabs
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions; to ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required, and to understand the steps and timings involved.
If you are looking for a more unusual fish dish to try, I think that these grilled pineapple and swordfish kebabs (kabobs) might be right up your street!
Cubes of marinated swordfish are threaded onto skewers with fresh pineapple, red onion, red peppers, and tomatoes, then grilled to perfection and served with cilantro-lime rice.
What Does Swordfish Taste Like?
Swordfish has a mild, slightly sweet taste, and isn’t a “fishy fish”, so it’s a great choice for those that are new to eating fish. It’s also classed as oily fish, with firm, succulent, meaty flesh. If you’ve had tuna steaks before, the texture is similar.
Interestingly, the flesh of some swordfish has an orange tint, caused by their diet of shrimp (and other prey) and are sold as “pumpkin swordfish”! That made me smile, because: pumpkins!
Swordfish has a number of health benefits, is protein-rich and loaded with niacin, vitamin B12, zinc and Omega-3.
Because of the size of a swordfish, the meat is usually sold as steaks, and available fresh or frozen – although fresh swordfish is the best to use in this recipe. Make sure you remove the skin (or ask your fishmonger to do it for you) before cutting it into cubes for this kebab/kabob recipe.
To protect fish for future generations, there are concerns about the overfishing of swordfish so it is best to choose a certified sustainable source – as you should do with all of your fish for food purchases.
Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
While most ingredients can be bought in grocery stores, for your convenience, any specialized or notable ingredients (and equipment) needed for this recipe have been listed below and linked to Amazon or other stores if available online.
It does not include staple ingredients such as oil, salt, and pepper, as you’re likely to have those in your kitchen already. The complete list of ingredients with measurements is found in the recipe card.
- Protein – Swordfish
- Fresh Produce – Pineapple, Red Bell Pepper, Limes, Cilantro (Coriander)
- Garlic Powder
- Non-Stick Cooking Spray – Or Butter, Olive Oil, Or Coconut Oil.
- Large Wooden Skewers – at least 12″/30cm. Metal skewers can also be used if you have them.
Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog use both cup measurements and/or weighted measurements. American cups and kitchen food scales are handy pieces of equipment to have in your kitchen as it means you’ll be able to make all of the different recipes on my blog. I try to give American, imperial, and metric measurements in my recipes. You can mix cup measurements with weighted measurements, but never mix imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.,) with metric (kilograms, grams, litres, etc.,).
More Recipes Using Fish
One of the hero ingredients in this dish is fish, so here are some more recipes using the same:
- Mediterranean Grouper with Tomato-Cucumber Salad
- Pan-Seared Tuna Steaks with Lemon-Caper Sauce
- Pistachio-Crusted Salmon with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
More Grilling Recipes
Looking for more dishes to cook on the grill? Check these recipes out next:
- Grilled Carne Asada
- Flavorful Grilled Herb-Rubbed Pork Chops for Al Fresco Dining!
- Grilled Lamb & Halloumi Wrap
Recipe Tips
- Soak the wooden skewers in a bowl of water for at least 30 minutes to overnight.
- With their tropical flavors, these would be perfect Luau Party Food to serve to your friends and family.
How Do I Make Swordfish Kebabs?
Check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. Any demonstration photos do not print out to save your ink.
Grilled Pineapple and Swordfish Kebabs
Ingredients
- 8 large wooden skewers
- 16 oz 450g swordfish, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 16 oz 450g. fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 medium red onion cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 large red bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp lime zest preferably organic
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves chopped
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
- Non-stick cooking spray or butter, olive oil, or coconut oil
- 2 large limes cut into wedges
- Cilantro-Lime Rice to serve
Instructions
- Place the swordfish, pineapple chunks, red onion, and red bell pepper in a large glass or another non-reactive bowl.
- Add the olive oil, lime zest, fresh cilantro, and garlic powder and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Gently toss to combine. Set aside to marinate for 15-20 minutes, stirring once or twice during that time.
- Spray a large grill pan with non-stick cooking spray (or lightly grease with butter, olive oil, or coconut oil). Set over medium heat.
- Thread the swordfish and veggies alternatively onto skewers. Working in batches if necessary, place on the hot grill pan. Cook until the veggies are slightly charred and crisp-tender, and the fish is flakey, approximately 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately with Instant Pot® Cilantro-Lime Rice, if desired, and lime wedges on the side. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Full Meal
You’ve made the main dish, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to make a full meal for a dinner party or special occasion:
- Appetizer: Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts Party Appetizer with Spicy Mustard Dip
- Soup: Cuban Black Bean Soup
- Salad: Pineapple Coleslaw with Bacon
- Side Dish: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Beverage: Cuban Rum and Peach Cocktail – A Delicious Tropical Summer Beverage
- Dessert: Mini Berry Pavlovas
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too.