Moroccan Pesto Rockfish With Clam and Chorizo Sauce

This recipe is by Tamara Murphy of Seattle's Brasa Restaurant, via John Shields. Ms. Murphy says to be authentic, you should prepare the pesto in the Moroccan way, by pounding the ingredients in a mortar with a pestle. Food processor instructions are included for the modern cooks. Red snapper is also great in this recipe.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1⁄3 cup  chopped fresh parsley
• 1⁄3 cup  chopped cilantro
• 2  garlic cloves
• 1  tablespoon  toasted cumin seed (see note)
• 2  tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 4  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
•  salt
• 24  ounces  rockfish fillets
• 1  green onion, slivered, for garnish

• For the Clam and Chorizo Sauce

• 12 -20  small clams (3-5 per person)
• 3  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1  tablespoon  minced garlic
• 1  tablespoon  minced shallot
• 1⁄2 cup chopped tomato
• 1  lb chorizo sausage, casing removed and sausage crumbled (or other flavorful sausage)
• 1⁄2 cup white wine
•  salt and pepper
• 1  lemon, juice of, strained

Directions

1. For the Pesto:
2. Mortar and Pestle Method:
3. Place the parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, and salt in a large mortar with a little of the olive oil and pound into a paste with a pestle. Add the remaining olive oil. Slather mixture on the fish and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
4. Food Processor Method:
5. Place the parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until mixture forms a paste. Add remainder of olive oil, a tablespoon or so at a time, and pulse to mix well. Slather on the fish and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
6. For the Sauce:
7. In a large pot or saute pan, heat olive oil. Add shallots and garlic and cook on low heat for 1 minute. Add sausage and cook through. Add tomatoes, clams, and wine. Cook until clams open. (Discard any that don't open.) Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.
8. For the fish:
9. Heat a scant 1/4 inch of good olive oil in a large saute pan. Remove the rockfish fillets from the refrigerator and saute approximately 4-5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the fillet (Fish should be cooked through until opaque and flaky for best flavor).
10. To serve, place the cooked fillets on a platter, and place the clams around them. Spoon the sauce over the fish and garnish with green onion slivers.
11. Note: To toast cumin seeds, heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spread seeds on a baking sheet and cook until fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.