Fish Cooked In Parchment Pesce Al Cartoccio Recipes

FISH COOKED IN PARCHMENT (PESCE AL CARTOCCIO)

Steps:

• Make sure the cavity of the fish is very well cleaned. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place a large sheet of parchment paper skin-side up on a board and sprinkle it with salt, pepper and some of the rosemary leaves. Place the fish on the parchment paper.
• Cut the cloves of garlic into small pieces. Into the cavity of the fish put half of the remaining rosemary leaves, half of the garlic pieces, salt and pepper. Sprinkle the outside of the fish with the remaining rosemary eaves, garlic and more salt and pepper.
• Wrap the fish completely in the parchment paper and place it in a baking pan, then place in the preheated oven for 17 minutes. Gently turn the fish over and bake for 17 minutes more, then remove the pan from oven and let the fish cool for 5 minutes.
• Serve hot with lemon wedges.

SEAFOOD AL CARTOCCIO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the red onion, garlic, half the fennel and 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large Dutch oven over high heat. Cook until the onions have softened, about 3 minutes. Add the Dungeness crab and wine and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, to a large high-sided saute pan over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons oil, the remaining fennel, white onion and ginger and saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the saffron. Carefully strain the broth directly into the ginger and onion pan, breaking up the crab and reserving for later. Allow the broth to simmer vigorously for about 30 minutes to thicken and reduce.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, soak a double-lined paper bag in water for about 5 minutes in a clean sink. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Add the striped bass, squid and shrimp to the grill and cook just until seared, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove and place in a large bowl with the lobster, tomatoes and reserved Dungeness crab.
• Pour the reduced broth over all the seafood and toss to combine. Add to the soaked paper bag. Roll the top of the bag to seal, creating a pouch, and lay, roll side-down, on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Bring to the table on a platter and cut open with some scissors. Serve with the lemon wedges.

FILLET OF FISH IN PARCHMENT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°.
• Oil lightly the center of your Silpat mat set on a baking sheet, or, if you don't have the mat, oil a piece of foil. Scatter the potato slices over the oiled area, then turn them. Salt and pepper lightly. Roast in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, turning once.
• Meanwhile, cut off an 18-inch piece of parchment paper, and fold it in half. Open it up, and on one half place the fish alongside the folded edge, after salting and peppering it on both sides (see illustrations on preceding page and opposite). Pile the zucchini, carrot, scallion, and ginger on top of the fish, salt again lightly, and splash on enough wine to bathe the fillet(s) lightly. After the potato slices have had their 10-minute pre-roasting, arrange them on top or around the edge of the fish and sprinkle the herbs over all. Fold the other half of the parchment over, then fold in the open edge twice, and pleat it all around to make a semicircular airtight package. If it tends to open up where the folded edges meet, secure that place with a binder clip or a large paper clip. Place on the sheet pan, and bake for 12 minutes. If you have a fairly thick fillet, you may need to bake it 1 or 2 minutes more. Test with a skewer; if it goes in easily, the fish is done. Plunk the whole parchment package on a big dinner plate, and enjoy.
• Second Round
• You can make a delicious salad with the remaining fish. Arrange a bed of watercress or young arugula leaves on a salad plate, and set the fish on top. Spoon 2 or 3 tablespoons of Sauce Gribiche over it (see page 160), or, if you don't have that handy, use about 2 tablespoons mayonnaise thinned and tarted up with a little plain yogurt or lemon juice and seasoned with a small, finely chopped cornichon (or part of a dill pickle) and 1/2 teaspoon capers. Garnish with some strips of roasted red pepper-your own (see page 242) or from a jar-a few black olives, and some cherry tomatoes. Or try the Fish Salad recipe on page 157. These are just suggestions. Use your imagination, based on what you may have on hand.