Instructions: In a small bowl combine tamarind and water and let stand 10 minutes. With your fingers rub tamarind to dissolve in water. Pour mixture through a sieve into a small heavy saucepan, pressing hard on solids, and discard solids. Thinly slice shallots and mince garlic. Add shallots, garlic, cilantro roots, fish sauce, sugar, and salt to tamarind water and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Keep sauce warm, covered. Sauce may be made 1 hour ahead and reheated before serving.

Preheat broiler.

Lightly brush rack of a small broiler pan with oil and on it arrange snapper fillets, skin sides down. Season fish with salt and broil 4 to 5 inches from heat until just cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes. While fish is broiling, thinly slice scallions and, wearing protective gloves, thinly slice chilies diagonally.

Stir whole basil leaves into warm sauce just before serving.

Transfer fish to a platter and pour tamarind sauce over it. Scatter scallions and chilies over fish and garnish with basil sprigs.

Serves 4 as part of a Thai
menu.

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