Fish In A Sack Food

FISH IN A SACK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400
• In a bowl combine fennel, onion, potato, garlic, salt, pepper and just enough olive oil to lightly coat
• Cut 12 x 16 pieces of parchment paper (TIP buy precut packaged half sheets from any restaurant supply store)
• Arrange about 1/4 of fennel mixture in center of each parchment, drizzle with 2 tablespoons vermouth or wine per packet, top with fish, season fish with salt and pepper, top fish lemon juice, butter, parsley
• Meet short ends at middle and fold over 1 inch, fold a few more turns than fold in ends to make half-moon shaped packets (sacks)
• Roast fish in sacks 20 -25 minutes and remove from oven
• Serve on plates, open the parcels carefully and slide contents away from vegetables and chicken
• Discard the paper

COD IN A SACK WITH FENNEL AND ONION

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rip off 4 sheets of parchment paper, each a little over a foot long.
• Make layered stacks dividing the fennel, onions, garlic, olives, and cod among the parchment pieces, working in the center of each piece of paper. Season the cod with salt and pepper and top with parsley. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil liberally over the fish portions. Fold the top and bottom edges together and crease several times then crease up the ends of the packets. Arrange the packets on the baking sheet and place in the center of the hot oven.
• Bake packets 20 minutes. Serve a packet per dinner plate and cut open at table. Cut lemon into wedges and serve to squeeze down over the hot fish. Pass bread to mop up the cooking juices in the sack.

SPANISH FISH IN A SACK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rip off 4 sheets of parchment paper, each a little over a foot long.
• Place 1/4 of the green beans in the center of each sheet then top with 2 anchovy fillets -- optional, 1/4 of the garlic, 1/4 of the pimiento or roasted pepper strips, chopped olives and cod or snapper portions. Season the fish with salt and pepper and top with equal amounts of the scallions and parsley. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil liberally and equally along with lemon zest and juice evenly over the fish portions. Fold the top and bottom edges together and crease several times then crease up the ends of the packets, making a sack for each fish to cook in. Arrange the sacks on the baking sheet and place in the center of the hot oven.
• Bake packets 20 minutes. Serve a packet per dinner plate and cut open at table. Pass salad or Potatoes with Chorizo and Onions or even simply some good, chewy bread to round out the meal.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and the chorizo. Cook sausage 2 minutes, flip cook another minute then add potatoes and onions to the pan in an even layer over the sausage. Season the potatoes and onions with salt, pepper and paprika then turn sections of the potatoes using a spatula so that the chorizo is on top and potatoes and onions are on the bottom. Place a smaller skillet on top and press down. Weight the skillet with a few heavy cans. Cook 10 to 12 minutes. Remove weight and turn again to combine all ingredients. Cook another 3 to 4 minutes then add parsley, remove from heat and serve.

FISH IN A POUCH

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, combine the butter, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, garlic, salt, and white pepper. Use a rubber spatula to mix the ingredients well until smooth. This is called a compound butter.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Season each fish fillet with 1/2 teaspoon of the Baby Bam.
• Lay each fillet in the center of a piece of aluminum foil and spoon 2 tablespoons of the compound butter over the top of the fish.
• Bring the long edges of the aluminum foil together and make thin folds to form an airtight seal. One side at a time, bring the outer short edges together and fold 2 or 3 times inward to seal the sides of the pouch.
• Repeat with the remaining fish fillets.
• Lay the pouches on a baking sheet and place in the oven.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Using oven mitts or pot holders, remove the baking sheet from the oven and cut the pouches open with kitchen scissors, or carefully unfold the pouches. Watch out for steam-keep your face away!
• Serve immediately.
• Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir well to combine, using a wooden spoon. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

COD IN A SACK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Rip off 4 sheets of parchment paper, each a little over a foot long. Place one fourth of the cauliflower in the center of each sheet of parchment, then top with 2 anchovy fillets, one fourth of the garlic and chopped olives, and 1 portion of cod. Season the cod with salt and pepper and top with equal amounts of the scallions and parsley. Drizzle EVOO liberally and sprinkle lemon zest and juice evenly over the fish portions. Fold the top and bottom edges of the parchment together and crease several times, then crease up the ends of the packets. Arrange the packets on a rimmed baking sheet and place in the center of the hot oven.
• Bake the packets for 20 minutes. Serve each packet on a dinner plate and cut open at the table. Pass salad and bread to round out the meal.
• My mom made this for us as kids. It's really fancy and French in origin. It was her take on fish in parchment. I make mine in parchment, but Mom used a brown paper lunch sack, which I cannot even find in the stores these days. If you "brown bag it," brush the bag lightly with vegetable oil to keep it from burning in the oven. That's what Mama always did.

SPANISH FISH IN A SACK

Steps:

• Prepare just as for the master recipe, #246, but with swapped ingredients: green beans, garlic, and pimiento or red pepper strips, snapper, salt and pepper, scallions, parsley, EVOO, lemon zest and juice. Roast for 17 to 18 minutes.