Saffronrice with monkfish and red peppers

Saffronrice with monkfish and red peppers

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil

75g shallots, finely chopped

1 small head garlic, cloves separated, peeled, finely chopped

½ tsp pimentón dulce (smoked sweet Spanish paprika), plus extra for seasoning the fish

pinch crushed dried chillies

200g vine or beef tomatoes, halved

1 litrefish stock

½ tsp loosely packed saffron strands

400g short-grain paella rice, Bomba

1 large roasted red pepper

500g monkfish fillet, trimmed of all membrane then cut across into 1cm thick slices

Preparation

Grate the halved tomatoes, pressing the fleshy, cut face of the tomato against the grater. (As you grate each tomato half, the skin will flatten out and be left behind.) Discard the skin.

Heat two tablespoons of the olive oil in a shallow flameproof casserole, add the shallot and fry gently for 10 minutes or until soft and sweet but not browned. Add the garlic, pimentón and chillies and fry for 2-3 more minutes, then stir in the tomatoes and cook until they have broken down into a thick sauce.

Stir in the fish stock, saffron and 1½ teaspoons of salt and bring to the boil. Sprinkle in the rice, stir once, then leave to simmer vigorously over a medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut the roasted red pepper or jarred pimientos into 1cm/½ in-wide strips, removing and discarding any skin or seeds. Sprinkle them over the top of the rice and shake the pan briefly so they sink into the mixture a little. Lower the heat and leave to simmer gently for another 12 minutes. At the end of this time almost all the liquid should be absorbed and the rice will be pitted with small holes.

Shortly before the rice is ready, pat the monkfish pieces dry on kitchen paper and season well with salt and a little pimentón. Heat the remaining two tablespoons of oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add the monkfish slices a few at a time and fry over a high heat for one minute on either side until very lightly coloured and almost cooked through.

Lay the pieces of fish on top of the rice, turn off the heat and cover the casserole with a clean tea towel, opened-out newspaper or lid. Leave to rest for five minutes, during which time the monkfish will finish cooking through.

Serve with an aioli.