Fish and Veggies En Papilotte

Every once in a while I get a special request for a recipe. I usually oblige; never in a public way. Today is different.  Here’s how Ashley coaxed me,

 ‘You know so much about food and cooking.. you need to help us twenty-something gals…  the smart gals, the fit gals… the gals who still haven’t gotten their full act together in the kitchen.’

Violà! How did she know my passion is getting  people to prepare more meals at home? Have you noticed that learning to cook is frequently one of the top items on lists like things I wish I knew when I was twenty? Cooking is now perceived as a desirable lifestyle habit, if  you cook  healthy.  Even if you don’t cook regularly, everyone should have at least one meal they can showboat make reasonably well.  So listen up all you twenty-something gals.  This is the meal you can  add to your “life portfolio”! 

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner,  why not  forgo the restaurant fare and share  this rustically romatic dinner in the comfort of your home? Sounds good, but who has the time? You do, if you can spare 25 minutes. I promise you, it’s that easy. Not to mention,  you can rack up some extreme brownie points from the man! Pardon the pun.

It take’s 5 minutes to assemble the food and fold it into a parchment paper parcel (en papillote, pronounced ON-poppy-YOTE). Pretty cool, eh? But they’re more than just a fun way to serve something  wrapped up like a surprise.   What appears to be a flashy technique, is actually an ideal way to steam food, locking in flavor and moisture. While they bake for 20 minutes,  assemble a tossed salad.  Keep the anticipation building; wait  until you’re at the table to open the packets and create a  little dinner time drama.

Below is the recipe for the meal pictured in the images on this  post. Use it if you’re a recipe follower. If you like to wing it, here are some tips.  Use a firm fish. I used Wahoo (I had some in the freezer from a fishing promise fulfilled). I think swordfish would work nicely and even salmon. Choose any  potato you like. Yukon gold would be yummy; I went with a purple sweet potato just for something different. Top with a non-starchy vegetable, use one that complements  the colors in your other ingredients.

Final tip, don’t let folding the paper freak you out. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t even have to cut your paper into a heart, I just found it easier to fold  that way plus it tied into the Valentine theme.  Here is a quick video on folding the parchment paper. I have also described my steps in the instructions. Have fun. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Fish and Veggies En Papilotte

Recipe for cooking fish and veggies in parchment paper .

• Author: Diane Boyd
• Prep Time: 5 minues
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 pieces of parchment paper about 15” X 24”
• 2 – 4oz pieces of white fish (filet)
• 1 potato (your choice) cut into 1/2 inch rounds
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 16 mini zucchini, quartered
• 1 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed

Instructions

1Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Fold each piece of parchment paper in half crosswise. Draw a large heart half on each peice with the fold of the paper along the center of the heart. Cut out hearts, open and lay flat.

3. On one side of the fold, place 2 sliced potato rounds. Sprinkle potatoes with garlic. Place fish  on top of potatoes. Top fish with julienne zucchini. Repeat with second peice of parchment paper.

4. Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and add lemon zest, lemon juice, dill. Pour half of melted butter mixture over each assembled fish  and vegetable combination.

5. Fold parchment paper over food to cover. Starting at the bottom of the heart, make small overalpping pleats all the way around to seal the edges completely. Make your last fold turn under.

6. Place both parchement parcels on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until the parchment puffs up.

7. Using kitchen shears cut open the tops of the  packets just before serving.