Fish en Papillote is an elegant yet simple dish where fish and veggies are wrapped in parchment paper and cooked together until delicious perfection.
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En papillote is a method of cooking food in a pocket of parchment paper. This pocket holds moisture to steam food to perfection. Typically, we use this method to prepare food when camping (except we don’t call it that fancy name).
En papillote is essentially a one-pan meal that comes in individual servings. You can add whatever veggies suits your fancy and call it good. Fish is most often used papillote style but chicken is a good choice too.
Use of Parchment Paper
A papillote pocket is created by overlapping sides and folding them tightly around the food to create a seal. It’s a simple technique even with parchment paper so don’t be tempted to use aluminum foil to make it even simpler.
I rarely cook with aluminum foil and when the need arises, I always place a sheet of parchment paper to create a barrier. Foil should never touch food during cooking because it leaches aluminum in high temperatures. So ditch the foil and pull out that parchment paper instead.
Weekly Treat
You can have Fish en Papillote weekly and not tire from it because there are so many different ways to enjoy this dish. The cooking method is the same, as long as you are using fish as your protein source (can’t speak for chicken as I haven’t tried that one yet).
Check out these yummy flavors:
- Mediterranean Style: sliced red onions, Kalamata olives, capers, sliced red bell peppers, grape tomatoes
- Asian Flare: bok choy, julienned carrots, ginger, garlic with thin slices of oranges
- Basil Mushroom: favorite mushrooms, yellow onions, and thin ribbons of basil with a splash of white wine
- Spring Medley: asparagus, shaved brussel sprouts, thinly sliced fennel, fresh dill and parsley
The possibilities are endless with en papillote. They’re all delicious and it’s a convenient way to make a one-pan meal without a pan. 😉
Related: How to Make Mayonnaise
My Picks and Helpful Tools
Rimmed Baking Sheet – for holding all the packets to make baking easier
Parchment Paper – to wrap all the goodies
Chef’s Knife – precisely cut the fish & veggies
Ingredients: mayonnaise, avocado oil, dried parsley, dried dill, salt & pepper
Fish en Papillote
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 1/2 pounds (4 md-lg size fillets) of wild Alaskan cod or another white fish
- 1 lemon, sliced into 8 slices
- 4 mini bell peppers, halved
- 8 brocollettes
- 8 grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 white onion, sliced
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 425F degrees.
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In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, oil, dill and parsley. Set aside.
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Prepare 4 pieces of large parchment paper folded then opened up in conveyor style.
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Pat dry fish fillets and generously slather them with the mayo/oil mixture. Place them on one half of the parchment paper.
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Layer veggies in the order given above. Salt and pepper to taste.
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Fold the other half of the parchment paper on top of the fish and veggies and begin tightly crimping the edges together starting at one end and moving towards to other one, creating a half-moon. It helps to use one hand to firmly hold the contents of the packet as I make my way across the half moon shape.
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Make sure the packet is tightly sealed. Place all packets on a rimmed baking sheet.
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Bake the packets in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until fish is cooked through.
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Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the packet open. Be careful - it's hot and steamy.
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Enjoy with a side salad or on it's own if it's loaded with veggies.
These are so special! Such a beautiful recipe! Parchment paper wrapped meals reminds me of my childhood, and one meal in particular that my mom made (and I loved it … I thought it was so elegant and fancy). I love the herbs you used in these, especially the dill. Love this recipe!
Thank you Emily. Isn’t it amazing how something can totally take us back to our childhood.
Sooo… I’m curious how you do this over a campfire without catching the parchment on fire! Do you just use tinfoil instead in that case? It sounds like the perfect camping meal!
It is the perfect camping meal…I wrap the contents in the parchment paper first then in tinfoil but the foil never touches my food. 🙂 Soooo good.
Ooh this is a different method of fish preparation than I’ve ever tried! It looks and sounds amazing!
Thank you Allison. 🙂
This was a bad idea… me looking at this recipe before lunch time! You’re making me SO HUNGRY!
Haha! That’s me every time. 😉
This recipe is so simple and pretty! I bet it’s delicious as well!
Yes!! Thank you Linda.
Ohh I love all the flavor change ups! Thank you for that! I want to try the Asian flare one!
Love that one!!
Love the versatility of this dish! And it’s such an elegant looking meal!
Thank you Corrine. It does give the appearance of an “elegant” dish without all the hassle.
I love fish en papillote but have never tried it with a mayo on it. I will definitely be trying this since it’s such a quick and simple way to cook dinner!
I love the creaminess it adds. So good. Enjoy!
I know so many people who don’t cook fish because they just don’t know what to do with it, or how to cook it. This is a great way of keeping all that moisture in and cooking it perfectly. Looks beautiful!
Thanks Jo. I agree – this adds a unique twist to the regular fish making.
Fantastic recipe, I can’t wait to give it a go as I’m always on the hunt for new and fun fish recipes!
Hope you like this one Donna. 🙂
This looks incredible, and I’m intrigued by the mayonnaise, I bet it keeps everything perfectly moist and makes an awesome sauce!
Yep – it adds flavor to the fish and veggies.
Such a fresh and simple dinner! Can’t wait to try.
Hope you like it Anne Marie. 🙂
These look so good and I love all the variations! I love how cute the little pocket looks folded up!
Agreed Jessica!
I love white fish and this recipe looks perfect for it ! So moist and delicious ! YUM !!
I have always wanted to try cooking fish like this. I have to try it. Looks delish!
Hope you like it Katja.
I love how simple this recipe is but it looks soooo delicious too! I love the fact you can just throw everything together in one go – perfect for busy families.
It is perfect for busy families! Thanks Georgina.
Love fish en papillote! Love that you provided a bunch of different flavor options too!
Thanks Dana. We love it too. 🙂
This looks like such a delicious and colorful fish dish.
Perfect little baked pockets of goodness! I shared this with a friend who is only eating fish for a month 🙂
Thanks Cristina for sharing. Very interesting concept to eat fish for a month.
Such a lovely, healthy and simple fish recipe! Fish is the best cooked in parchment paper ! 🙂
Oh wow you have given me so many ideas here! And the recipe looks absolutely fab, will definitely be saving it, thank you Anya!
You’re very welcome, Mark. Enjoy!
All those different suggestions do sound delicious and it’s such a simple way to cook fish for the family.
Thanks Vanessa. I agree – fish en papillote gives variety.
Such pretty little packets of deliciousness!
Thank you Becky.