Instructions: Crush cardamom pods; remove black seed.

In a 1- to 1 1/2-quart pan, mix cardamom seed, carrot juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar, cornstarch, and sugar until well blended. Stir over high heat until mixture boils; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 1/2 cup, 7 to 9 minutes. Cover pan and remove from heat; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Taste, and add salt and more vinegar if desired. Pour sauce through a fine strainer into a bowl.

Meanwhile, rinse fish, pat dry, and cut into 4 equal portions. Rub fish all over with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt. Set a 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan (with ovenproof handle) over high heat. When pan is hot, add fish and turn as needed to brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes total. Sprinkle pepper evenly over fish.

Put pan with fish in a 400 degree oven; bake until fish is opaque but still moist-looking in center of thickest part (cut to test), 5 to 7 minutes.

Transfer fish to rimmed plates. Spoon sauce evenly around fish and sprinkle with chives.

This recipe yields 4 servings.

Comments: Chef Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys restaurant in San Francisco demonstrated this imaginative dish last year at the Winter Wine Escape at the Mauna Kea Resort in Hawaii. Serve with sauteed spinach and roasted fingerling potatoes.

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