Papillote Of Striped Bass With Herbs And Quick Aioli Recipes

WILD STRIPED BASS EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Fold 4 large square sheets of parchment paper in half. Starting at the fold, cut out a large half heart shape. Open the paper flat on a surface with the point of the heart towards you. Butter the centers of each heart lightly with a teaspoon of the butter.
• Divide the Swiss chard into 4 portions. Place a pile onto each heart, centering it on 1 side of the heart, towards the crease. Top each with 1/4 of the zucchini, asparagus, corn, and mushrooms. Season the fish well with salt and pepper and place a fillet on top of each pile of vegetables. Place 1 teaspoon of butter on each fillet and sprinkle each with some of the parsley, tarragon, shallots, and garlic. Drizzle a little white wine over each.
• Fold the paper over to cover the fish. Starting at the top of the heart, tightly fold over the edges, overlapping each time, all the way to the point, until it is sealed. Tuck under the last fold to keep it closed. Butter the tops of the packets with the remaining butter. Place the packages onto a baking sheet and put them into the oven for 15 minutes.
• To serve, put the papillotes onto plates and unfold them at the table. (Be careful of the hot steam.) Serve with lemon wedges.

HALIBUT EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the olives, capers, garlic and anchovy to a food processor. Add 1/2 cup olive oil and black pepper to taste. Process to form a silky paste with small pieces of olive and capers remaining, 15 to 20 seconds. Drizzle in more olive oil as needed. Remove the tapenade from the carafe, then drizzle with olive oil and set aside.
• Drizzle the center of each of 4 large circles of parchment paper with some olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each piece with a thin layer of fennel and some leeks. Top each with a dollop of the olive tapenade and 2 to 3 lemon slices. Lay the fish on top of the lemon slices and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold the parchment in half to cover the fish, then crimp the edges shut, being sure to cover the corner of each previous fold. When you are halfway through folding, add 1 tablespoon of white wine to each packet, then continue to fold until the entire package is formed and closed. Place each packet on a baking sheet.
• Bake the fish for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, then place each packet on a plate. Cut open the top of the paper to expose the fish. Garnish each fillet with the Calabrian chiles and basil. Serve immediately.

HERB AIOLI

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, parsley, tarragon, dill, vinegar, hot sauce and garlic. Season with salt. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

SEA BASS IN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil, then drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil.
• Pat fish dry and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange fillets, skin sides down, in 1 layer in center of foil on baking sheet and slide 2 lemon slices under each fillet. Arrange 2 thyme sprigs on top of each fillet.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté garlic, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and a pinch of salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are softened, about 1 minute. Stir in capers.
• Spoon hot tomato mixture over fish, then cover with another sheet of foil, tenting it slightly over fish, and crimp edges together tightly to seal.
• Bake until fish is just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes (depending on thickness of fish); check by removing from oven and carefully lifting up a corner of top sheet of foil, pulling up sides of bottom sheet to keep liquid from running out. If fish is not cooked through, reseal foil and continue to bake, checking every 3 minutes.
• Transfer fillets with lemon slices to plates using a spatula (be careful not to tear foil underneath) and spoon tomatoes and juices over top. Serve immediately, discarding thyme before eating.