If you have never tried cooking in parchment packets, also known as papillotes, you have to give it a try. The food retains its moistness and the natural sugars in the food are enhanced by the steam cooking that takes place within the pouch. They are fun, too. During cooking, the packets puff up like little pillows. Diners do not know what is inside until they open the packets, releasing a waft of delicious aroma.
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
Besides the obvious benefits of easy clean up and the fun of opening up your meal like a present, cooking in parchment packets is also healthy for you. The steaming of the food in the packets is a low fat way to cook. You do not need to add a lot of oil or butter to cook your food. It is also a wonderful way to deal with delicate foods like sole and flounder.
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 I Make?
Parchment packets are so versatile you can cook just about anything in them. Fish works well, and chicken and pork also does well. Almost an entire meal can be prepared in a packet. Just use layers for your meat, sauce, and vegetables to get a wonderful entre. Pasta can even be cooked to perfection!
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.
When you use parchment, you want to prepare your vegetables in small, even pieces. By slicing them thinly or using a julienne technique, they will cook quickly and evenly. You may want to try carrots, mushrooms, shallots, celery, or zucchini. Add some aromatic herbs for full flavor.
Use a baking sheet to hold your packets and bake in a 400-degree oven for about ten minutes. Dinner will be ready in a flash!
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
Besides the obvious benefits of easy clean up and the fun of opening up your meal like a present, cooking in parchment packets is also healthy for you. The steaming of the food in the packets is a low fat way to cook. You do not need to add a lot of oil or butter to cook your food. It is also a wonderful way to deal with delicate foods like sole and flounder.
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 I Make?
Parchment packets are so versatile you can cook just about anything in them. Fish works well, and chicken and pork also does well. Almost an entire meal can be prepared in a packet. Just use layers for your meat, sauce, and vegetables to get a wonderful entre. Pasta can even be cooked to perfection!
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.
When you use parchment, you want to prepare your vegetables in small, even pieces. By slicing them thinly or using a julienne technique, they will cook quickly and evenly. You may want to try carrots, mushrooms, shallots, celery, or zucchini. Add some aromatic herbs for full flavor.
Use a baking sheet to hold your packets and bake in a 400-degree oven for about ten minutes. Dinner will be ready in a flash!
About the Author:
Chicken is a magic food whether in a simple chicken Marsala or a chicken spaghetti recipes
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