Emulsifier Free Cod en Papillote with Lemon, Herbs & Cherry Tomatoes
Cooking fish in parchment is one of those techniques that feels fancy but is genuinely forgiving, and the results here are absolutely stunning. Each fillet steams in its own little sealed pouch alongside zucchini, cherry tomatoes, fresh thyme, and bright lemon rounds, so every bite is infused with clean, herbaceous flavor. The garlic-infused oil and a splash of dry white wine create a light, fragrant cooking liquid right inside the parcel — no heavy sauces, no stabilizers, no additives of any kind. For anyone navigating emulsifier-free eating, this approach is a dream because everything on the ingredient list is exactly what it says it is: whole vegetables, fresh herbs, and simple pantry staples. Crimping the parchment into a tight half-moon seal traps all that steam and keeps the cod incredibly moist without needing anything processed to hold it together. Opening the parcels at the table is a genuinely theatrical moment — a puff of fragrant steam, a perfectly flaked fillet, and a little pool of bright, lemony juices waiting underneath. Squeeze a wedge of lemon over the top and dinner is done.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cod fillets (6 oz each), skin-on or skinless
- 3 tbsp garlic-infused oil
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced into rounds
- 1 lemon, half thinly sliced into rounds, half cut into wedges for serving
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 4 scallions, green tops only, thinly sliced
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp dry white wine
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Cut four sheets of parchment paper, each about 15 inches long. Fold each sheet in half crosswise to crease the center, then open them flat on a baking sheet.
- 2
Arrange a few zucchini rounds in a single layer on one half of each parchment sheet, just off the center crease. Scatter a quarter of the cherry tomatoes over the zucchini on each sheet.
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