En Papillote
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 4 servings
- Total: 30 min
- Active: 15 min
Ingredients
4 (6-ounce) fish fillets
2 cups fresh vegetables
Vinegar, citrus juice, or wine
Fresh herbs or other aromatics
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter, sliced into 4 pieces
En Papillote Variations, recipes follow
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Mix the seasonings (vinegar, juice, wine, zest, spices, etc.) together in a small bowl; set aside.
- Fold 4 (20-inch) parchment paper squares in 1/2 lengthwise and cut out a large heart shape. Unfold and arrange on 2 baking sheets. Cook's Note: Aluminum foil can be substituted for parchment paper.
- Evenly divide the vegetables among the 4 heart-shaped parchment packets. Place fish fillet on top of vegetables and season. Top with a small pat of butter.
- Fold the top half of the parchment over the fish, overlapping small folds along the edges and sealing. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the parchment paper puffs up.
- Transfer the parchment packets to plates. Carefully cut the packets open, avoiding the hot steam and serve.
- En Papillote Variations:
- Wild Mushrooms en Papillote: Replace the fish fillet with 1 pound mushrooms (equal parts chanterelles, morels, and shiitakes). Add fresh chives, fresh parsley, fresh tarragon, white wine, and increase the butter to 1 tablespoon.
- Spring Vegetables en Papillote: Replace the fish fillet with 4 cups vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, etc. Season the vegetables with thinly sliced garlic, fresh herbs, fresh lemon juice, zest, and salt and pepper.
- Mediterranean Halibut en Papillote: Top the halibut with pitted kalamata olives, sliced red onion, fresh parsley, fresh lemon juice, and fresh oregano. Add white wine for steaming.