Fish En Papillote. Don’t you feel fancy just saying it? Despite what its elegant name might suggest, this method of baking fish in parchment paper packets is one of the easiest, most foolproof methods to cook fish.
Fish cooked en papillote (which is French for “in paper” and is pronounced ahn-pa-pee-yawt) means to bake fish inside of a pouch made of folded parchment paper.
As the fish bakes, it steams in its own juices and the flavorings you’ve added, resulting in incredibly tender, moist, and positively scrumptious fish. Even if you’ve never cooked fish, you can nail baked fish in parchment. It is DIVINE!
Everyone receives their own little parchment present – topped with homemade pesto (ummm…yum 😋) and creamy mashers! OUTSTANDING!
Pesto Salmon En Papillote & Peppered Mashed Potatoes
Pesto Salmon En Papillote & Peppered Mashed Potatoes
6 oz. fresh caught, Atlantic King Salmon
1 tsp. basil infused olive oil
sea salt and pepper
1/2 cup Lemon Pistachio Pesto**
1 1b. red potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 Tbs. butter
1-2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 tsp. sea salt
**Lemon Pistachio Pesto
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Slice the salmon fillets in two.
Season with sea salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.
Wrap each fish fillet in parchment paper and bake 10-12 minutes (depending on the “doneness” you prefer – more for WELL done – I prefer rare fish and meat).
Meanwhile, prepare the pesto – and be ready to serve as the BESTO!
And, among all the other goings on in the kitchen, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Add the potato chunks and cook until soft, reserving about 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Mash and smash with the the butter, pepper, and salt, as well as the starched water.
Plate with the potatoes, salmon, and fresh pesto, and continue to garnish with freshly ground pepper.
Serve with Chianti Classico for a real treat!
Lemon Pistachio Pesto
1 cup roasted pistachios (obviously shelled)
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 large handful fresh basil
1 small handful fresh lemon thyme
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/8 tsp. garlic salt
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Whir until smooth.
