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1
Preheat oven to 350u00b0F.
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2
Place garlic cloves on 6-by-6-inch square of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Wrap garlic tightly in foil and roast in middle of oven until soft, 30 to 35 minutes. When cool enough to handle, unwrap and separate cloves. Squeeze garlic from skin into small bowl. Set aside.
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3
On gas stove, directly over burner turned to moderately high heat, roast chiles, turning with tongs, until softened and charred on all sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. (Alternately, roast chiles in broiler, turning occasionally, about 2 1/2 minutes.) Immediately seal in airtight container or place in bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let sit until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes, then uncover. Holding chiles under cold running water, rub off charred skins. Cut off tops, gently split chiles open, and discard seeds if desired. (Seeds will add additional heat to final dish.) Set aside.
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4
In dry, 10-inch skillet over moderately low heat, toast coriander seeds, shaking skillet often, until fragrant and several shades darker, about 3 minutes. Transfer to small bowl. Toast cumin seeds in same manner. (Do not wash skillet.) When cool, finely grind both spices in electric coffee/spice grinder. Set aside.
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5
In same skillet, over moderately low heat, toast coconut, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until fragrant and golden, about 7 minutes. In blender, combine coconut, garlic, chiles, and 1/2 cup water. Puree until smooth, adding additional 1/4 cup water if necessary. Set aside.
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6
In medium saucepan over moderately high heat, heat canola oil until shimmering. Add shallot and ginger, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add garlic-chile puree (do not clean blender) and ground spices. Pour stock into blender, swish around to collect residual pure, and pour into pan with other ingredients. Add tamarind paste and sugar, and season with salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 12 minutes. Keep warm.
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7
Preheat oven to 400u00b0F.
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8
In small bowl, beat together egg, flour, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to make egg wash.
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9
Place rice flakes in medium bowl.
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10
Working with 1 fillet at a time, generously brush skinned side of snapper with egg wash, then gently dredge same side in rice flakes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining snapper.
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11
In large ovenproof skillet, over moderately high heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil until shimmering. Add 3 snapper fillets, coated sides down. Sear, without turning, until coating is golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn fillets over and place skillet in oven. Roast, uncovered, until firm and just cooked through, about 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer fillets to platter and loosely cover with foil to keep warm. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in skillet and cook remaining fillets in same manner. Serve with roasted chile sauce.
