Samak al Sahara

Samak is Arabic for “fish." This recipe is a variation on the traditional Middle Eastern samak bi tahini, in which the fish is covered with sesame paste flavored with garlic and lemon. To the basic sauce the Lebanese add a tingle of heat with the cayenne and chopped cilantro for accent. Snapper, swordfish, rockfish, and sea bass are particularly good with this sauce; the tahini crust on the fish keeps it moist throughout the baking process. You can garnish with olives or chopped walnuts alo