Basque-Style Seafood Stew (Sopa de Pescados y Mariscos a la Vasca)

 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
1 tbsp. finely chopped garlic
2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp. tomato paste
Two 8-oz. bottles of clam juice
1 cup water
1 lb. bass, cod, monkfish or red snapper filets, cubed
1/2 lb. medium shrimp, shelled and deveined (reserve the shells)
2 lbs. mussels or manila clams
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs thyme
1/4 tsp. Espilette or cayenne pepper
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper
Pinch of saffron
1/4 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley

Aioli and toasted baguette