This sauce is suggested for serving with baked fish fillets, but I've also used it (without cooking it and with the addition of chopped scallions) in a red bean salad. It looks Georgian (former Soviet, that is!) in origin.

In a food processor, grind walnuts with salt and paprika. After walnuts exude their oil and the mixture is pasty, blend in just enough warm water to make walnuts turn creamy and light-colored. Scrape into small bowl. Crush garlic with a pinch of salt. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cilantro and cook, stirring, until oil just begins to sizzle (maybe 2 - 3 minutes). Add to the walnuts along with the lemon juice and enough of the water to give the sauce an even consistency. Correct the seasoning. Makes one cup.

If you use this for fish, brush fillets with olive oil and bake on an oiled baking sheet until just cooked, about 5 minutes. Transfer fish to a shallow serving dish. Spread an even layer of sauce over each fillet and garnish with lemon. Serve at room temperature.

From: Paula Wolfert's Cooking of the Eastern Mediterranean
Posted By: pamra@rockland.net, Alexandra Soltow
Post Date: Mon, 11 May 1998