These Side Dishes Go Really Well With Swordfish

When it comes to meal prep, getting the right flavor combination is everything. After all, polenta might be great with chili, but you'd never have it with sushi, and naan may go great with your curry but you're probably not going to have it with beef bourguignon. If you're having swordfish for dinner, these side dishes will be the perfect complement.

The first thing you'll want to think about is season. You can get swordfish any time, but on the American coasts peak swordfish season runs from August to January (via Boston Sword & Tuna), so the best side dish choices will depend partly on whether it's late summer, fall, or winter. For summer, eHow recommends light, fresh vegetables like grilled veggie skewers with bell pepper, summer squash, mushrooms, and/or eggplant slices. You might also enjoy a light, fruit-based salsa — the light tang pairs great with the swordfish's meatiness — or a fresh salad with a citrus dressing.

If it's autumn or winter, you might want to consider some heartier side dish options. Jane's Kitchen recommends going for earthy flavors with a wild rice mushroom pilaf or picking a substantial cooked vegetable like sautéed beet greens. There are also lots of swordfish pastas, so if you want to recreate the pasta swordfish experience while keeping swordfish as the nutritional heart of the meal, try serving it on zucchini noodles and topping it with a garlic pesto.

So you have your side dishes picked out, now what drink should you serve? If you'e a wine drinker, Cooking Chat explains that the right wine depends on how you're preparing your swordfish. A medium-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo is great if you're having a hearty swordfish meal, while a full-bodied white or rosé will be perfect if you went for a lighter preparation.