How to Cook in Parchment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Serve a spectacular dinner with these simple steps.

Step 1: Prepare the parchment

To start, take some parchment paper. It's available at grocery stores. Draw a heart on the paper.

Step 2: Cut out the blank

Cut out a heart-shaped leaf—after all, you cook with love.

Step 3: Start assembling the dish

Start with vegetables. Sliced ​​peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms work well. Play with different textures like chopped nuts and carrots, and add aromatic ingredients like garlic or shallots.

Step 4: Add protein

Season and add more flavors as desired. Tip: Ginger or citrus zest will add a vibrant flavor and aroma.

Step 5: Fill

Sprinkle the ingredients with wine or citrus juice.

Step 6: Secure the edges

Seal the envelope by folding the edges, about 1 cm at a time. You want a secure, tightly folded edge to keep all the flavors inside.

Step 7: Place in the oven

Place in an oven preheated to 200°C for about 8-10 minutes.

Step 8: Make a cut

Make a slit with a knife. Then carefully open the envelope.

Step 9: Prepare to receive guests

For entertaining guests, try making a few envelopes in advance. Bake them at room temperature before baking. Your guests will love opening these little gifts at the dinner table.

Recipes in parchment

Salmon en papillote

The salmon, along with fried fennel, half-boiled potatoes, shallots, herbs, a knob of butter and a little white wine, is sealed en papillote, that is, in a parchment parchment, and baked until the fish is tender.

Recipe: Salmon en papillote

Oven-baked chicken and chorizo ​​rolls

Each serving of this Latin American-inspired dish is baked in a separate parchment-lined package in the oven. Before baking, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are marinated for several hours in a spicy paste made from chili peppers, green onions, cilantro, and herbs. Place them on slices of cooked polenta, top with bell peppers and fried chorizo, wrap in parchment, and bake until the chicken is cooked through. You'll have a complete meal with meat and sides.

Recipe: Oven-baked chicken and chorizo ​​rolls

Cod in parchment with tomato and basil salsa

Bake cod fillets with a low-carb vegetable side of corn and green beans in a parchment-lined package. To enhance the delicate flavor of the fish, spread pats of butter over the fillets before sealing and baking. Drizzle with dry white wine. Serve the dish directly in the packages. Your guests will be impressed with this unique presentation.

Recipe: Cod in parchment with tomato and basil salsa

Shrimp with noodles in coconut sauce with lemongrass in bundles

Shrimp are baked with rice noodles in a fragrant coconut curry with lemongrass in individual parchment wraps. This method helps achieve a rich flavor without excess fat or salt.

Recipe: Shrimp with noodles in coconut sauce with lemongrass in bundles

Clams with kale and chorizo ​​sausage in parchment

The clams are baked with beans, kale, and Spanish sausage in small, parchment-lined packets. The clams and sausage have enough saltiness to permeate the entire dish during cooking, so you won't even need any additional salt. For spices, use only garlic, which pairs beautifully with seafood, and smoked paprika, which enhances the fantastic flavor of the chorizo. A splash of white wine adds even more depth and roundness to the dish.

Recipe: Clams with kale and chorizo ​​sausage in parchment

Chicken fillet with ginger and green onions in parchment

Prepare Asian-style chicken fingers with shiitake mushrooms, tender snap peas, and a side of rice, drizzled with a delicious Asian sauce. For the sauce, you'll need soy sauce, dark sesame oil, ginger, rice vinegar, and hot chili sauce or sambal. Serve with pre-cooked, frozen brown rice. The entire dish is prepared in individual parchment-lined packets, where it steams in its own juices without adding oil or extra calories.

Recipe: Chicken fillet with ginger and green onions in parchment