An easy way of cooking healthy meals is to use parchment packets, or papillotes. The food remains moist and tender, while the natural sweetness in the food comes out due to the steaming that takes place. Parchment packets are fun, too. The packets puff up like small balloons during cooking. Your family will not know what is awaiting them until they open their own individual packet, which will release an enticing aroma when opened.
While parchment paper is the traditional paper used for this method of cooking, you can also try brown lunch bags in a pinch. To make a pouch, fold a large sheet of parchment in half. Cut along the fold, making a large Valentine heart. Make enough so there is one pouch per person. Open the heart. Position your food in the center of one half of the heart. Add your salt and pepper, vegetables and any sauce or marinade the recipe calls for. Top it off with lemon slices or herbs. Seal up your packets by folding the empty half of the paper over the food. Beginning at the top of the heart, make small folds towards the food. Continue making the folds along the entire edge, folding the last one over a few times to make sure it stays. Put the finished packets on a baking sheet and bake according to your recipe.
Parchment Cooking is more than Just Fun
Cooking in parchment makes clean up easy, and your family will find it fun to open their meals like a present. This method is also very healthy. Steaming the food uses little fat, so your food remains healthy and fresh. Only a little bit of oil or butter is needed instead of coating a pan with it. Parchment cooking is also a gentle method for cooking delicate foods like some types of fish.
You can find the parchment paper at the grocery store along with waxed paper and foil. If your store does not carry parchment, foil will work for packets too.
What can be Cooked in Parchment?
Parchment packets are versatile… you can cook almost anything easily. Fish, pork, and chicken all work really well. An entire meal can be made inside a packet. Just layer your meat, vegetables, and sauce in the pouch, close it up and put it in the oven. Pasta even works inside a pouch!
Make side dishes of vegetables and herbs, an entre of tilapia and lemon, or try some quick easy chicken recipes. Make delicious ethnic recipes like ramen, pasta, or TexMex.
Preparation is the key to baking in parchment. Make sure your aromatic vegetables are sliced thinly. Some vegetables that work well include carrots, celery, shallots, mushrooms, and zucchini. Add some herbs.
Position your packets on a baking sheet and slide it into a 400-degree oven for 6 to 10 minutes. Your dinner will be ready quickly!
