- 1 large garlic clove
- 1 cup fresh cilantro sprigs
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 lb arctic char fillets with skin
- Accompaniment: lime wedges
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.
- With motor running, drop garlic into a food processor to finely chop. Shut off motor and add cilantro, nuts, cayenne, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then blend until coarsely chopped. With motor running, add oil, blending until incorporated. (Sauce should be coarse.)
- Arrange fillets, skin sides down, in a lightly oiled baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, then spoon pesto over fish. Bake until fish is opaque and just cooked through, 12 to 17 minutes, depending on thickness of fillets.