Southwest Seafood Chowder

canola oil

yellow onion, coarsely chopped

garlic cloves, smashed

large ancho chiles, seeded and torn into large pieces

fennel seeds

dry white wine

crushed tomatoes

2-percent milk

dozen cherrystone clams, scrubbed

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

small red onion, finely chopped

celery rib, finely chopped

fennel bulb, finely chopped

frozen corn kernels, thawed

smoked sweet paprika

skinless halibut fillet, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

shelled and deveined medium shrimp

Oyster crackers or crusty bread, for serving