Flounder In Parchment With Asparagus And Shiitakes Recipes

ASPARAGUS, FISH DINNER PARCELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
• Cut four 12 x 13 inch rectangles of parchment.
• paper (foil may be substituted if cooking in a conventional oven).
• Fold in half lengthwise and crease.
• Open each one.
• Arrange fish fillets on one side of each rectangle.
• Drizzle evenly with lemon juice.
• Place four asparagus spears on top of each fillet.
• Sprinkle tomato, onion and herbs evenly over asparagus.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Fold other half of paper over.
• Seal completely by making a double 1/2 inch fold on all cut edges.
• Place parcels on a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven about 10 minutes or until fish flakes and asparagus is crisp-tender.
• (If using parchment paper you can microwave on full power 9 to 10 minutes. Allow to stand 5 minutes).
• Serve on individual plates.

FISH FILLETS IN PARCHMENT WITH ASPARAGUS & ORANGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place parchment squares on work surface. Generously butter half of each parchment square; top buttered half of each with 1 fish fillet. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper; top each fillet with 3 tarragon leaves, then 1 piece of butter. Arrange asparagus around each fish fillet; pour 1 tablespoon orange juice over each. Fold parchment over fish and asparagus, folding and crimping edges tightly to seal and enclose filling completely. Place on 2 rimmed baking sheets, spacing apart. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Chill.).
• Bake fish packets 17 minutes. Slide packets onto plates and serve.

FILLET OF FISH IN PARCHMENT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°.
• Oil lightly the center of your Silpat mat set on a baking sheet, or, if you don't have the mat, oil a piece of foil. Scatter the potato slices over the oiled area, then turn them. Salt and pepper lightly. Roast in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, turning once.
• Meanwhile, cut off an 18-inch piece of parchment paper, and fold it in half. Open it up, and on one half place the fish alongside the folded edge, after salting and peppering it on both sides (see illustrations on preceding page and opposite). Pile the zucchini, carrot, scallion, and ginger on top of the fish, salt again lightly, and splash on enough wine to bathe the fillet(s) lightly. After the potato slices have had their 10-minute pre-roasting, arrange them on top or around the edge of the fish and sprinkle the herbs over all. Fold the other half of the parchment over, then fold in the open edge twice, and pleat it all around to make a semicircular airtight package. If it tends to open up where the folded edges meet, secure that place with a binder clip or a large paper clip. Place on the sheet pan, and bake for 12 minutes. If you have a fairly thick fillet, you may need to bake it 1 or 2 minutes more. Test with a skewer; if it goes in easily, the fish is done. Plunk the whole parchment package on a big dinner plate, and enjoy.
• Second Round
• You can make a delicious salad with the remaining fish. Arrange a bed of watercress or young arugula leaves on a salad plate, and set the fish on top. Spoon 2 or 3 tablespoons of Sauce Gribiche over it (see page 160), or, if you don't have that handy, use about 2 tablespoons mayonnaise thinned and tarted up with a little plain yogurt or lemon juice and seasoned with a small, finely chopped cornichon (or part of a dill pickle) and 1/2 teaspoon capers. Garnish with some strips of roasted red pepper-your own (see page 242) or from a jar-a few black olives, and some cherry tomatoes. Or try the Fish Salad recipe on page 157. These are just suggestions. Use your imagination, based on what you may have on hand.

FLOUNDER IN PARCHMENT WITH ASPARAGUS AND SHIITAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Fold two 13-by-19-inch sheets of parchment in half from short ends to create a crease in each; unfold. Place each fillet to one side of a sheet, abuttingcrease; generously season with salt and pepper. Scatter mushrooms, asparagus, and onion evenly around fillets. Drizzle each fillet with 2 tablespoons wine. Scatter butter evenly over fish and vegetables; season with salt and pepper.
• Fold each sheet over fish and vegetables. Starting on one side, roll bottom side of parchmentup and over top side to seal; continue working around until pouch is sealed in a half-moonshape. Transfer both pouches to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Steam-roast until parchment puffs and darkens slightly and fish is just cooked through, 10 to12 minutes. Carefully rip open pouches (scalding steam will be released) and serve.