Rockfish en Papillote with Spring Vegetables and Tarragon Butter

With a cooking method as simple as it is flavorful, this en papillote (“in paper”) gluten-free rockfish recipe from Kirstin Jackson is ideal for flaky whitefish and tender spring vegetables finished with a silky tarragon butter.

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Rockfish en Papillote with Spring Vegetables and Tarragon Butter

Note: thinner fish cooks faster.
Servings 2
Author Kirstin Jackson

Ingredients

  • 2-1/2
    tablespoons
    unsalted butter,
    at room temperature
  • 1
    clove
    garlic,
    minced
  • 1-1/4
    tablespoons
    chopped tarragon
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/4
    bunch thick asparagus,
    halved lengthwise, or thin asparagus
  • 1-1/2
    small carrots,
    peeled
  • 1/2
    cup
    trimmed sugar snap peas
  • 2
    6-ounce (about 1½-inch-thick) skinless fillets rockfish, mahimahi, or another firm, flaky whitefish

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, blend the butter, garlic, tarragon, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt until the mixture is smooth and slightly fluffy.

  2. Trim the asparagus ends. Cut the carrots into matchsticks about three-quarters the thickness of the asparagus for even cooking.
  3. Place two 13-by-13-inch sheets of parchment on a work surface and fold each in half to make a crease, then open them. With the crease vertical like an open book, arrange half the asparagus, carrots, and snap peas on the right side of each paper. Set a fillet on top of each vegetable cluster, season with a generous pinch of salt, and dot each fillet with half of the tarragon butter. Fold the left side of the paper over the right to close like a book. Starting at one creased corner, make tight, overlapping folds along the edge to seal each packet; add an extra fold at the end to ensure it’s secure.
  4. Place the sealed packets on a sheet pan and bake until the fish is just cooked through, about 15 minutes (thinner fillets will need less time). Let the packets rest for 5 minutes, then carefully open and serve.

Photography Erin Ng