When you want to sound like a Michelin-starred chef, but don’t really want to put the work into “julienning” or cooking “sous vide,” cooking “en papillote” is the way to go. That’s French for, “No dishes to wash but still totally juicy, delicious and easy.”
Cooking en papillote is simply cooking in a parchment paper pouch. Creating a parchment paper packet keeps your ingredients — especially fish — from drying out and helps the flavors all marinate together. The best part is the easy cleanup: Simply unwrap the parchment paper and plate the food. Kids will enjoy unwrapping them like presents at the table. We decided to make things even more effortless and rounded up our favorite parchment packet recipes — ready in 20 minutes or less!
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6 Quick and Easy Parchment Paper Recipes
1. Lemon Garlic Chicken Parchment Packets
Dealing with picky eaters? This lemon garlic chicken recipe is perfect for people who don’t love fish (even if the rest of the family is having fish en papillote), and the veggies can easily be swapped out for whatever’s fresh and local. To keep things Whole 30- and Paleo-approved, we like enjoying this dish with cauliflower rice or zoodles. Photo and recipe: Michelle Tam / Nom Nom Paleo
2. Lemon Dill Salmon with Vegetables
When you’re exhausted from work, the last thing you want to do is slave away in the kitchen. This easy and healthy salmon recipe gets dinner on the table in 20 minutes. Squash and zucchini can easily turn out bland, but when cooked en papillote with salmon, they’re packed with flavor and not too soggy. Dill makes for the perfect finishing touch that’s as pretty as it is delicious. Photo and recipe: Averie Sunshine / Averie Cooks
3. Greek Fish en Papillote
Greek salad, meet fish fillet. This easy Greek fish en papillote recipe can be customized with the white fish of your choice. For an explosion of flavor, add dried herbs, lemon and of course, tomatoes and kalamata olives (skip the oregano sprigs to make it a true five-ingredient recipe). This fish could easily be served solo, atop a bed of greens or alongside rice or potatoes. Photo and recipe: Anetta / The Wanderlust Kitchen
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4. Baked Fish in Parchment Paper
Looking for a fish dish with sides baked right in? Turn to this satisfying baked fish recipe that includes tomatoes and zucchini. White wine is the magic ingredient that keeps everything juicy and deepens the flavors as it bakes. P.S. This recipe includes a helpful how-to video if you’re still nervous about the method. Photo and recipe: Jaden Hair / Steamy Kitchen
5. Baked Tilapia with Radish Recipe
This crazy-quick recipe is so simple you can whip together the relish while the fish is cooking. Tilapia may get a bad rap, but the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch program actually rates it as one of the best choices. Tilapia is a good source of lean protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. While the recipe calls for tilapia, feel free to swap for any other white fish. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life by Daily Burn
6. Ginger Mango Chicken En Papillote
Mango, fresh ginger, jalapeno and cilantro infuse vibrant flavors into the chicken juices of this delicious en papillote dish. Use this recipe to prepare chicken tacos for an easy weeknight dinner that feels special. Since the chicken has so much flavor, you don’t need to add the typical fixings of cheese, salsa and guac, which can add calories. Photo and recipe: Emily Caruso / Jelly Toast
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