PPLD's Cookbook & Recipe Blog - LibGuides at Poughkeepsie Public Library District

Go Fish.

(Grilled Swordfish with Rice Pilaf, Green Salad and Avocado)

June 24, 2025.

by Bridget O'Donnell

Fish is already close to a weekly dinner go-to. Sometimes I make it twice a week because it’s healthy and versatile. It doesn’t have to be time consuming to prepare and in a pinch, a thinner cut can be cooked partially frozen, which has saved a few nights. There are many schools of thought on how to cook fish. Baking it might be the most hands off but if you haven’t already, cast your net a little wider. Try grilling fish in aluminum foil packets, a grill basket, on kabob skewers and occasionally, directly on the grill grates.

Title of cookbook: Coastal Kitchen: Nourishing Seafood Recipes For Everyday Cooking

Author of Recipe: Jenny Shea Rawn

What prompted you to check out this cookbook?

When my coworker suggested a simple grilled recipe for swordfish I committed it to memory so that I could use it as arsenal during the week.

This cookbook not only showcased grilled swordfish on the cover but suggested the same base recipe as my coworker.

What did you like about this recipe?

Novelty piqued my interest. Swordfish? This recipe is easy to follow and uses minimal ingredients: oil, salt and pepper. Awe-some. It's also ready in 8-10.

Bonus: almost every recipe I found to compare cooking techniques suggested the same method for oiling the grill. Dip/soak a wadded up paper towel in olive oil then rub it on the hot grill grates. It really works. This practice may become as habitual for me as cleaning the food off of the grill grates with a brush.

What didn't you like about this cookbook?

The cookbook provides nutrition highlights and nutrition facts per serving but these are only estimates. The disclaimer states these estimates may vary depending on the cooking method, brands used, and interpretation of the recipe, amongst other variables. The introduction for the “Swordfish, Tuna, and Striped Bass” chapter beginning on pg. 99 also doesn’t mention that Swordfish is higher in Mercury than other types of fish. Ask your doctor how often you should eat fish high in Mercury or, my sincere apologies, if at all.

Favorite recipes (that you tried from the cookbook/website):

Grilled Swordfish Piccata (pg.101)

Did you alter the recipe or make any substitutions?

The instructions provided by Rawn were followed for grilling the Swordfish; there weren’t many but to simplify dinner, I omitted the Piccata sauce. Instead, at my coworker’s suggestions, we dipped the fish in Teriyaki and/or Worcestershire sauce. A little over a pound was enough for two people, two nights of the week with the addition of various sides. Personally, I would recommend only buying what can be finished in one serving.

Would you recommend this recipe?

Yes, try it if you can. This meatier fish is like steak in that it doesn’t fall apart when cooked directly on the grill grates. Enjoy it's mild taste just don't have it too often and maybe not at all if part of the vulnerable populations. Check with your doctor.

References:

Books –

America's Test Kitchen. Foolproof fish: Modern Recipes For Everyone, Everywhere / America's Test Kitchen.

Coastal Kitchen: Nourishing Seafood Recipes For Everyday Cooking / Jenny Shea Rawn.

Websites -

“Seed Sowing Library.” Poughkeepsie Public Library District, 9 January 2025, poklib.org/books-more/library-of-things/. Accessed 24 June 2025.

“Swordfish: How It Can Benefit Your Overall Well-Being.” WebMD, www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-swordfish. Accessed 24 June 2025.

“What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish.” WebMD, www.webmd.com/diet/mercury-in-fish. Accessed 24 June 2025.

Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog (organized alphabetically, by subject):

Cooking (Fish)

Cooking (Seafood)

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Accessed 28 October 2025. “American Heart Association.” Heart.Org, heart.org/en/. Accessed 28 October 2025. “American Stroke Association: A Division of the American Heart Association.” Stroke.Org, stroke.org/en/. Accessed 28 October 2025. Awada, Rena. “Easy Homemade Beef Stew.” Healthy Fitness Meals, 18 November 2024, healthyfitnessmeals.com/homemade-beef-stew/#wprm-recipe-container-36209. Christensen, Emma. “You Don’t Even Need Oil for These Easy Roasted Beets.” The Kitchn, 26 September 2025, thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-beets-in-the-oven-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-172827. Edwards, Terri. “Vegetable Stock from Scraps.” EatPlant-Based, 26 November 2024, eatplant-based.com/wait-dont-throw-those-veggie-scraps-out/#recipe. Lieberman, Alana. “Chicken Minestrone Soup.” Your Home, Made Healthy, 28 May 2024, yourhomemadehealthy.com/chicken-minestrone-soup/#recipe. 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Pork and Chive Dumpling IngredientsWe'll skip past the boiled mishap to the parchment lined steamer basket.Left: My First Steamed/Fried Dumplings with Pork, Chive and Sautéed Scallions,Right: Boiled Noodles with Pork and Chive ‘Meatballs’Pelmeni from scratch.Ready to freeze.Enjoy[ed]!References:Books – Beyond Borscht: Old World Recipes from Ukraine and Eastern Europe / Tatyana Nesteruk. Mamushka: A Cookbook / Olia Hercules. (E-resource) Websites - Kravchuk, Natasha. “Russian Pelmeni Recipe + New Dough!” Natasha's Kitchen, 8 April 2018, natashaskitchen.com/russian-pelmeni-recipe-new-dough-recipe/. Leung, Judy. “Pork and Chive Dumplings.” The Woks of Life, 5 January 2024, thewoksoflife.com/pork-chive-dumplings/. “10 Ways To Fold Dumplings.” YouTube, Eat Mila, youtube.com/shorts/2MB6zHe3Z_E?si=44ugAfgoJclUwW62. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025. - (00:57 minute video.) Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog (organized alphabetically, by subject):Cooking, Chinese.Cooking. 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(Thank you!) Happy belated 4th of July! May it lead to many more culinary experiments!! Independence Day dessert: Griddled pears and peaches with vanilla Balsamic vinegar served over vanilla ice cream with wild berriesGrace's Chinese ChivesChinese Chives and Eggs or, Stir-fried Chives with Scrambled EggsEggs with Chinese Chives (guess which one has milk)References:Books – Cool Backyard Grilling: Beyond the Basics for Kids Who Cook / Lisa Wagner. - (Tasty Basic Burgers, pg. 12-13. These burgers are anything but basic. Every now and then I might combine two kinds of ground meat but my burgers are generally seasoned with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and occasionally garlic powder. The sky's the limit!) Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking / Eileen Yin-Fei Lo. Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling / Meathead Goldwyn. - (cast iron griddle, pg. 152) Weber's Ultimate Grilling: A Step-by-Step Guide to Barbecue Genius / Jamie Purviance. - (griddle, pg. 48) Websites - Overhiser, Sonja. “How to Grill Corn in the Husk.” A Couple Cooks, 30 April. 2025, www.acouplecooks.com/grilling-corn-in-husk/. Rappos, Joanne. “Classic Grilled Cheeseburger.” Olive & Mango, 21 June 1970, www.oliveandmango.com/classic-grilled-cheeseburger/. - (This recipe has a nice chart for internal temperatures.) Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog (organized alphabetically, by subject):Barbecuing.Cooking, Chinese.Outdoor cooking....

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