Black Pomfret en Papillote (Fish in paper envelope)

Went to a restaurant with some friends a couple of days back and he ordered Fish en papillote and the first comment when he got the plate was "I wish i could make something like this at home".

To break the myth that "en papillote" commonly known as "in envelope" is very difficult to make and you will have to only go to a good restaurant to eat this. Today i will share the basic quick to cook and good to taste recipe. 

En` Papillote is cooking style which started in Italy and was adapted in different cuisenes very well, 

This is a technique where the meat literally cooks in its own juices and absorbs some flavor of the outer shell. This is very healthy way of cooking where the accompaniments are cooked with the meat itself and has base flavor of the meat, which harmonizes the overall dish. 

Its an overwhelming felling when you open/ tear the envelope and get all the aroma and juices out. And all your guests can appreciate the true flavor and blast of the taste with every bite.

Now lets go to the recipe and see how simple it is to cook.

Ingredients

1. Fish - 700 gms   

2. Onion - 2 Large 

3. Potato - 2 Large

4. Carrots - 1 Large

5. Beans - 8-10 

6. Rosemary - 4 Sprigs/ 2 TBsp if dried

7. Garlic - 10-12 cloves

8. Olives - 8-10 

9. Lemon - 2 Large

10. Parchment Paper - 4 sheet (size o fold the fish)  

11. Butter - 1tsp (just to brsuh Parchment paper)

12, Salt 

13, Pepper

Pre- Prep

1. Wash and cut the fish in Fillet 4 Pcs

2. Thinly slice Onions, carrots 

3. Boil the potatoes till half cooked and slice in same thickness as onions and carrots

4. String the beans and cut into 1 inch pc

5. Clean the garlic and slice 

6. Slice the olives 

7. Squeeze the lemon 

8. Marinade the fish with Salt, pepper & lemon juice

Cooking

We will cook four (4) separate portions/ packets so please repeat the same 4 times

1. Pre-Heat the Oven on 200 degree C for 10 mins.

2. Brush the Parchment paper with Butter in the center 

3. Place 1/4th Onions, Potato  and carrot slices and sprinkle salt

4. Place 1 Fillet of fish on top 

5. Put 1/4th Garlic and Olive slices on top

6. Sprinkle Rosemary on top of fish

7. Place beans around the fish

8. Wrap the parchment paper in a way to ensure the steam doesn't stays intact 

(We can wrap in a traditional style, heart shaped cutout and pinching the parchment paper or simply folding all side from outside to inside and enclosing with a toothpick)

9. Place the envelopes in a baking tray and cook for approx 20 mins in the preheated oven 

10. Open/ tear the envelope on the table itself  Serve it with a wedge of lime.

>>> Even better let your guest tear their own envelope