Catalan Fish Stew

This recipe is adapted from a Food & Wine Annual Cookbook for 2012. It has wonderful layers of flavor. They suggest a medium bodied Spanish white wine to accompany the dish.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs plum tomatoes, halved crosswise
• 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  large onion, thinly sliced
• 2  garlic cloves
• 1  cup bottled clam juice
• 4  ounces serrano ham, sliced and cut into thin strips
• 1⁄3 cup green olives, pitted and chopped
• 1 1⁄2 lbs halibut fillets, cut into 2-inch chunks
•  kosher salt
• 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  smoked paprika (preferably Pimenton de la Vera)

Directions

1. Carefully grate the cut sides the the tomatoes, stopping when you reach the skin. This should produce approximately 2 cups of tomato pulp.
2. In a large deep skillet, heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil. Add the onion and half of the garlic and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until softened and just beginning to brown (about 6 minutes). Add the tomato pulp and cook over high heat until thickened (about 5 minutes). Add the clam broth and boil until it is reduced by half (about 5 minutes).
3. Add the ham, olives, and fish and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the fish is cooked through and the stew is thick. (about 5 minutes).
4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, or a mortar and pestle, mash the remaining garlic to a paste along with a pinch of salt. Whisk the mayonnaise into the garlic paste along with the paprika and the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil.
5. Serve the stew in shallow bowls with a dollop of the mayonnaise and crusty bread.