Bake Fish Easily in Parchment or Foil (2024)

Prepare the Fish and Seasonings

Baking fish in parchment paper or tin foil—known in France and gourmet cooking circles as en papillote—steams the fish with a minimum of fuss and equipment.

Delicate fish—sole (as pictured) and other thin white fish—is particularly delicious cooked in parchment packets since it cooks gently and stays moist. Any fish, however, can (and should!) be cooked using this method because fish essentially steams in its own juices, is difficult to overcook, and ends with the easiest clean-up in the world.

To get started, heat an oven to 400 F.

Next, lay one serving of fish and its seasonings on one-half of a large sheet of parchment paper or tin foil. The sheet should be about 18 inches long. Note: If you like, you can fold the parchment or foil before putting the fish on it and cut it into a heart shape for a more elegant presentation. Prepare one serving packet per person.

Now add seasonings. You can simply use salt and pepper, or add small, thinly sliced or shredded vegetables like carrot, zucchini, or peas. Herbs like basil, cilantro, or thyme are also nice additions. This cooking method allows much flexibility, so add what sounds good to you, but just make sure that whatever you add requires the same cooking time as the fish you're using.

Pictured here is petrale sole with thinly sliveredgreen onionsand finely chopped fresh chile, all sprinkled with a bit of salt and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil in a piece of unbleached parchment cut into a heart shape.