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Mango BBQ'd-Grilled Swordfish

This vibrant grilled swordfish recipe offers a sophisticated twist on traditional barbecue flavours. Swordfish is a fantastic choice for the grill due to its firm, meaty texture, which holds up beautifully over high heat. The star of the show is the homemade mango BBQ sauce, which balances the natural sweetness of ripe tropical fruit with savoury Worcestershire sauce, tangy mustard, and a hint of warm Hungarian paprika.

As a high-protein dish, this meal is both satisfying and nutritious, making it an excellent choice for a healthy mid-week dinner or a light weekend lunch. The bright acidity from the orange juice and white wine vinegar cuts through the richness of the fish perfectly. Serve alongside a crisp green salad or some lightly charred courgettes for a fresh, Mediterranean-inspired feast.

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Ingredients for Mango BBQ'd-Grilled Swordfish

  • 2 tablespoons pure olive oil

  • 1/2 large red onion, chopped

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 60ml fresh orange juice

  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

  • 120ml white wine vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

  • 1/2 tablespoons Hungarian hot paprika

  • One 400g can peeled plum tomatoes, chopped

  • 300g diced ripe mango

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 50g Creole or Dijon mustard

  • 40g molasses

  • 1 teaspoon chilli powder

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

  • 1/2 tablespoons freshly toasted and ground cumin seeds

  • Four 7- to 230g swordfish steaks, trimmed

  • Scant 475ml Mango BBQ Sauce

  • 1 mango, peeled and sliced, for garnish

Heat a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, add the oil and onion and stir. Then let the onions caramelize, without stirring.

Add the garlic and stir for about 1 minute. Add all of the remaining BBQ sauce ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 50 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until you have a little over 725ml sauce. Leave chunky or puree in a blender or food processor. Set aside to cool.

Remove the swordfish steaks from the refrigerator and let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature before cooking them.

Prepare an outdoor grill for grilling over medium-high heat or preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the swordfish steaks for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side and 2 to 3 minutes on the second side, until browned on the outside and cooked through.

Transfer to warm serving plates and spoon some of the mango BBQ sauce around the fish.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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