Best foil parcel recipes?

October 2, 2011 6:46 AM

I'm looking for simple and delicious foil parcel recipes. I've only got access to an oven and limited preparation space in my kitchen for a while and thought this might be the solution for all in one meals that involve minimal washing up. I've got some Jamie Oliver fish/chicken ones - any other ideas?
posted by janecr to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

This technique is called "en papillote."
posted by crunchland at 6:51 AM on October 2, 2011

It's not a foil parcel but I make quesadilla-type thingies on a sheet of foil as a quick minimal-clean-up dish. I take a tortilla, spread a thin layer of refried beans on it with a knife, sprinkle shredded cheese on it (and sometimes leftover bits of chicken and/or some salsa) and put it open-faced under the broiler setting in my oven for 5-7 minutes, then fold it in half and cut into sections after it comes out. I'd expect that you can do it without a broiler setting too, just experiment with the cooking time.
posted by XMLicious at 6:55 AM on October 2, 2011

I like to think of this as foil stew because it uses stew ingredients but it takes only a few minutes prep time and not very long to cook. Chop up some potatoes, vegetables, meat of your choice, consider adding some spicy sausage for flavour. Assemble in sheet of foil. Season to taste, this is where the left over bbq sauce for example comes into its own but experiment with different flavours. Seal foil by folding edges over tightly. Cook in hot oven for about half an hr. Enjoy.
posted by koahiatamadl at 7:04 AM on October 2, 2011

Cinnamon-roast pineapple.

Take a fresh pineapple and a sharp knife. Cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple. Stand it on its end and slice off the the outside skin. Cut the pineapple into eight wedges, remove the woody core (the pointy end of each wedge) and cut the pineapple into 1" chunks. Place on foil, drench with cinnamon and a drizzle of honey, seal up the parcel and bake for 20 minutes. Allow it to cool slightly and serve it warm with a big dollop of crème fraîche.
posted by essexjan at 7:34 AM on October 2, 2011

This is a huge favourite in our house. Leftovers are almost nicer reheated the next day. Also great cooked on the barbecue.

Fish Parcels
========

Any type of fish can be used - cod, prawns, mussels, salmon, tuna (whatever's on sale). Best is a combination of roughly 60% white fish with 40% prawns/mussels.

150g basmati rice (long grain is also fine)
About 350g fish
1 x 5 cm knob of fresh ginger (grated)
2 small pak choi (bok choi) or 150g spring cabbage (tough stalks removed)
Punnet of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
Sauce:
2 garlic cloves (crushed) )
1 tbsp veg oil ) whisked together
4 tbsp dark soy sauce )
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil )


Instructions
0. Make the sauce in advance if you can but it's fine if you make it all at the same time
1. Preheat oven to gas mark 8 (230)
2. Boil the rice until soft but not too soft
3. Lay out two sheets of foil and smear the centre with vegetable oil
4. Fork up the cooked rice and spoon into the middle of the foil making piles about the size of the fish fillets
5. Top with half the ginger
6. Lay the cabbage on to the rice
7. Lay the fish on top
8. Place the halved cherry tomatoes around the edge
8. Top with the rest of the ginger
9. Give the sauce a final whisk and pour over the top
10. Cover each with another sheet of foil and fold the edges up to make a snug parcel but not too tight
11. Place on a baking sheet and cook in oven for 15 mins
12. Serve the parcels straight on to a plate
13. Watch the delight on the faces of your guests
posted by humph at 8:28 AM on October 2, 2011

In the summer, we did potato packets, squash packets, and fish packets on the grill. As you note, there is little to no clean-up, so it goes pretty fast. Additionally, papillote is a very forgiving technique, and you can earn yourself a lot of fudge room with times and temps. I generally give my parcels about 25 minutes in a 350 oven. When they puff up, you know they're done.
posted by Gilbert at 8:33 AM on October 2, 2011

Chicken breast chunks with broccoli and onions, doused with caesar salad dressing, wrapped in foil and cooked until the chicken is done. Also good with honey mustard, or balsamic vinaigrette, or practically any other salad dressing you have. Use more dressing than you think you need, especially with something creamy like caesar, because you lose the stuff that coats the foil.

Chopped onions and lean hamburger, smothered with bbq sauce. When it's done cooking, open the foil and throw some cheddar cheese on top, then tent the foil long enough for the cheese to melt.

Both of these are awesome served with a side of biscuits, which can be made at the same time in the oven (and require no cleanup if you put foil on your baking pan). We do homemade or just use the Grands from the fridge section at the store.
posted by vytae at 3:28 PM on October 2, 2011

Wrap a cut up 4 pd chicken, onion, garlic head, corn, carrot, sweet potato, and fresh herb(s). Cook at 400 for 45 mins. For the garlic, just cut the head in half. In case I wasn't clear, just roughly cut up all the veggies, and use whatever cuts of chicken you want. Dab with butter or olive oil. Yum.
posted by xammerboy at 7:17 AM on October 3, 2011