Basic Fish Baked in Parchment Recipe
- 1 (6-ounce) firm-fleshed white-fish fillet, such as halibut, cod, or haddock (the fillet should be between 3/4 and 1 1/4 inches thick)
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bay leaf, cut in half (optional)
- Fresh herbs, such as chives, parsley, tarragon, or chervil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 3 thin lemon slices
- 1 tablespoon dry white wine or water
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle.
- Draw out a large piece of parchment paper (about 17 by 11 inches) and, with one of the longer edges closest you, fold it in half from left to right.
- Using scissors, cut out a large heart shape.
- Place the fish in the center of one half of the parchment heart.
- (The heart should be large enough that there is at least a 1-1/2-inch border around the fillet.)
- Set the parchment heart on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle the fish with half of the olive oil, rub the oil all over the fillet, and season with salt and pepper.
- Lay half of the bay leaf and a few sprigs of herbs (if using) on top of the fish.
- Break the butter into little pieces and arrange them on top of the herbs.
- Place the lemon slices over everything and drizzle with the remaining oil.
- Fold the parchment heart over to cover the fish.
- (The edges of the heart should line up.)
- Starting at the rounded end, crimp the edges together, folding them over themselves and leaving the last two inches at the pointed end unfolded.
- Slightly tilt the package up and pour in the wine or water.
- Finish crimping the edges, then twist the pointed end around once and fold the tail under.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake 10 minutes for a 3/4-inch-thick fillet or 12 minutes for a 1- to 1-1/4-inch-thick fillet.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer the parchment package to a dinner plate.
- Serve immediately, cutting into the parchment tableside using scissors or a knife.
firmfleshed, extravirgin olive oil, salt, freshly ground black pepper, bay leaf, fresh herbs, unsalted butter, lemon slices, white wine
Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/basic-fish-baked-in-parchment-28716 (may not work)