French Parcels Recipes

PAUPIETTES DE PORC - FRENCH STUFFED PORK FILLET PARCELS

Steps:

• Flatten the pork escalopes or pork steaks with the flat of a large knife. Salt and pepper generously.
• Mix the finely diced onion with the sausage meat and add the herbs - mixing well with your hands. Season with black pepper.
• Place a spoonful of the seasoned sausage meat on each pork escalope one-third of the way down the scallop. Roll the escalope around the sausage meat, tucking the meat around the stuffing until well rolled. Taking about two feet of string, place the bundle in the middle of the string, and tie; turn one-quarter turn and tie again; turn again and tie again. When you have a neatly tied packet of pork and stuffing, clip off any excess string and proceed to tie up the rest of the pork escalopes.
• Place pork parcels in a single layer in a hot, deep sauté pan with olive oil. Brown on all sides and remove from the pan.
• Sauté the chopped shallots in the oil left in the pan. Stir until they start to colour, then add the flour and the tomato paste. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture starts to colour then add nearly the whole bottle of wine, reserving a glass for yourself if you wish!
• Place the pork paupiettes back in the pan with the bouquet garni and the sauce, cover, and simmer slowly for forty-five to sixty minutes.
• Add the sliced mushrooms and orange zest to the sauce and cook uncovered for another fifteen minutes. Serve 2 paupiettes per person with plenty of sauce and with a selection of seasonal vegetables, gratin potatoes, rice or pasta.
• To freeze: Place them in a plastic container with greaseproof paper in between them, or in a ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• To defrost: Take the paupiettes out the night before you need to cook them and defrost in the fridge. Cook them as before when they have fully defrosted.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN PARCELS

Steps:

• Cut four pieces of foil about 10 in square. Brush the squares with the oil and set aside until needed.
• With a sharp knife, slash each chicken breast at intervals, then slice the mozzarella and place between the cuts in the chicken.
• Divide the courgettes and tomatoes between the pieces of foil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roughly chop the basil or oregano and scatter over the vegetables in each parcel.
• Place the chicken on top of each pile of veggies then wrap in the foil to enclose the vegetables and chicken, tucking in the ends.
• Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for about 30 minutes.
• To serve, unwrap each foil parcel and serve with rice or pasta.

CREAMY CHICKEN AND GARLIC PICNIC PASTIES-PARCELS WITH BOURSIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200ºC, 400ºF, Gas Mark 6. Grease and line a large baking tray.
• Thoroughly mix together all the filling ingredients, seasoning with black pepper. (You can pre-fry the mushrooms if you wish.).
• Roll out the pastry to a 30 cm (12 inch) square, then cut into 4 squares, place them on the baking tray.
• Pile the ingredients into the middle of the pastry sqaures. With the back of a spoon firmly press ingredients together.
• Brush edges with milk, fold corners to the centre sealing edges.
• Brush with beaten egg or milk and bake for 35 minutes until golden brown.
• Eat warm or cold.

FRENCH PARCELS

Steps:

• Spread a teaspoon of butter on each of 4 sheets of foil. Place a steak in the centre of each sheet.
• Combine remaining ingredients and spread on steaks. Wrap foil around to form parcels and place on a baking tray.
• Bake at 180C for 30 minutes. Serve with jacket or new potatoes and salad.