Baking en Papillote

Fish cooked en papillote or al cartoccio is found on fancy French and Italian menus, but, in fact, paper-bag cookery is not at all difficult. It requires the minimum of utensils and equipment - simply an oven, a flat baking sheet and greaseproof paper or baking parchment. Sometimes foil is used, but I do not like the sound of metal cutlery on foil, and would not recommend it. Because the food cooks in its own juices and vapours, this method of cooking is essentially another way of steaming, and is therefore a very healthy way of preparing food.