You need to experience the easy method of baking fish in a Bag. It locks in steam and juices, producing a moist, tender, and flavorful fish. Infused with lemon, garlic, smoked paprika, and a touch of Parmesan, this recipe promises a fuss-free and delicious dining experience.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Fish in a Bag
- Ingredients
- How to Make Fish in a Bag (Parchment paper packets)
- Variations
- Top Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage
- Making fish in a bag in the Air Fryer
- Benefits of Cooking Fish in Parchment Paper Bag
- FAQs
- Don't miss a recipe! Subscribe to our newsletter.
- 📖 Recipe / Receita
- Comments
I love making this fish in a bag for my family because it's a hassle-free and foolproof way to prepare a tasty and wholesome meal that my family adores.
This cooking method, also known as "fish en papillote" or "fish in parchment paper," locks in flavors and keeps the fish moist. There are no complicated techniques here – just an easy, no-fuss recipe ready in less than 30 minutes. The kids will love getting their own little bag for dinner.
This recipe was inspired by one of my visits to a great restaurant in São Paulo called Bananeira (Banana Tree). I'm friends with the chef/owner, and during one of my visits, he taught me how to make a delicious white fish wrapped in banana leaf. He placed the fillet in the center of the leaf, seasoned it, added a few vegetables, and wrapped it like a little gift.
The fish was so delicious that I decided to recreate it at home. Since banana leaves are hard to find, I made them with parchment paper.
I'm sure the banana leaf gives a special touch to the recipe, but at least the parchment paper helps with easy cleanup.
By the way, if you like fish, make sure to try my Parmesan Panko Crusted Tilapia and my Brazilian Fish Stew. They are both easy to make and super delicious, perfect for busy weeknights!
Why You'll Love These Fish in a Bag
- Effortless Preparation: This recipe requires minimal effort, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner. Just add all ingredients to the parchment paper, close, and bake. Even the cleanup is a breeze.
- Amazing flavors: Each bite is a burst of lemony, garlicky, and smoky goodness, enhanced by the umami of Parmesan and the zing of capers.
- Versatile Ingredients: The simple ingredients can be easily customized to suit your taste preferences or accommodate dietary restrictions.
Ingredients
* For all quantities, check out the recipe card located at the end of this post.
- Tilapia fillets
- Lemon juice
- Minced garlic
- Smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper
- Parmesan cheese
- Capers
- Butter
- Asparagus
Substitutions
Fish: Experiment with your favorite fish. Salmon, fresh cod, or halibut are great options.
Asparagus: Swap it with other quick-cooking veggies like zucchini, bell pepper, sugar snap peas, or red onion.
How to Make Fish in a Bag (Parchment paper packets)
(For all quantities and details, check out the recipe card at the end of this post).
Pre-heat oven to 350F (180ºC). Cut 4 pieces of parchment paper (12"x12"/31cmx31cm).
Place one fillet on each piece and season them with lemon juice, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Add capers and butter on top and asparagus on the sides.
Close the parchment paper by pulling the right and left sides and closing on top of the fish. Make a small fold on each end, sliding your finger through the length of the fold you've just done. Repeat the folding about 3 times and tuck it under the fish.
Place the fish packets on a rimmed baking tray and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until cooked thoroughly.
Fish is done when meat is opaque and flaking easily. Don't overcook it.
Variations
Herb Infusion: Season fish with fresh herbs like thyme or dill for an extra layer of freshness.
Extra veggies: Add extra veggies that are quick to cook, like cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced bell pepper, onion, or zucchini.
Top Tips
- Add lemon zest or lemon slices for an extra lemony flavor.
- Ensure the parchment paper is well-sealed to retain moisture.
- Adjust seasoning and ingredients based on personal preferences.
- Don't overcook it so the fish can be moist and tender.
- The butter in the recipe is for flavor. If you'd like to make it lighter, skip the butter.
Serving Suggestions
Pair the fish with a side of butter rice, quinoa, or a light salad for a well-balanced meal.
Storage
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat in the oven or microwave for the best results.
Making fish in a bag in the Air Fryer
To make fish in a bag using an air fryer, follow the same simple steps detailed in the recipe card.
If your model has baskets, you won't need a sheet pan. You can place the parchment packets straight inside the baskets, ensuring they are well-sealed.
Cooking times will vary, but you can generally cook fish fillets in the air fryer for approximately 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness, after preheating. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. When it's about time, open one packet to check for doneness. The fish should be opaque and flake easily with a fork.
Adjustments may be needed based on your specific air fryer model, so it's recommended to consult your appliance's manual for guidance.
Benefits of Cooking Fish in Parchment Paper Bag
Parchment paper packets form a tight seal, locking in the steam and juices during cooking. This yields flaky and moist meat, infusing the flavors into the fish and vegetables. It's like steaming but with much more flavor due to the delicious sauce that forms.
It also helps with easy cleanup and minimal mess since the ingredients are neatly contained in individual bags, and the sheets of parchment paper are tossed after use.
If you're not used to working with parchment paper, here is a nice article that teaches some tips on how to use parchment paper.
FAQs
You can use all kinds of fish when baking them in parchment paper pouches. Still, I recommend Tilapia, fresh cod, or halibut for this specific recipe, adjusting the seasoning amount and cooking time according to the thickness and weight of the fish.
While you can make aluminum foil packets as an alternative to parchment paper when cooking fish in a bag, parchment has notable benefits. Parchment paper eliminates the risk of a metallic taste, promotes even cooking, and addresses potential health concerns associated with aluminum. Though both materials work, parchment paper is often preferred for its culinary advantages, ensuring a flavorful and well-cooked dish.
Absolutely! You just need to choose vegetables with a similar cooking time to the fish. Experiment with veggies like zucchini, cherry tomatoes, or bell peppers. They all cook fast and taste delicious with fish.
Yes, it's a healthy cooking method as it preserves nutrients and requires minimal added fats.
More seafood and fish recipes for a delicious dinner:
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📖 Recipe / Receita
Easy Fish in a Bag Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Tilapia fillets (or white fish of preference)
- 4 teaspoon lemon juice (1 teaspoon for each fillet)
- 4 teaspoon minced garlic (1 teaspoon for each fillet)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (⅛ teaspoon for each fillet)
- ½ teaspoon salt (⅛ teaspoon for each fillet or to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
- 4 tablespoon shredded fresh Parmesan cheese (1 tablespoon for each fillet)
- 2 tablespoon capers (½ tablespoon for each fillet)
- 2 tablespoon butter (½ tablespoon for each fillet)
- 1 bunch asparagus (I used 4 for each fillet)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (180ºC) and cut 4 pieces of parchment paper (12"x12"/31cmx31cm).
- Place one fish fillet on each piece of parchment paper. Season them with lemon juice, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Spread the capers over the fillet, and add ½ tablespoon of butter on top of each fish. Place the asparagus on both sides of the fish (I used 4 for each packet, but you can use as many as you'd like), and close the parchment paper.
- To close the parchment paper, pull the right and left sides and close on top of the fish (just like you make when wrapping a present). Then, make a small fold on the bottom end of the paper, sliding your finger through the length of the folding you've just done. Repeat this folding process about 3 times and tuck it under the fish. Do the same thing on the other end. You'll end up with a little fish packet.
- Place the fish packets on a rimmed baking sheet and bake it for about 15 minutes.You can serve it with butter rice and salad. Enjoy!
Notes
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- Ensure the parchment paper is well-sealed to retain moisture.
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- Adjust seasoning and ingredients based on personal preferences.
-
- Don't overcook it so the fish can be moist and tender.
-
- The butter in the recipe is for flavor. If you'd like to make it lighter, skip the butter.
- You can experiment with other veggies that are quick to cook, like cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced bell pepper, onion, or zucchini.
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Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional disclaimer
All nutritional information above is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Nutritional content may vary according to brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, substitutions, optional ingredients, etc. Simple Living Recipes is not responsible for any miscalculation or misinformation in the nutrition label.
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Angel says
Tried it came out delish!!!
Angel says
Thank you for
This since I’m Puerto Rican we are used to using banana leaves and wrapping a few of our foods up this was great I use it with Maui Maui fish in a leased it and then I folded it and it was a great meal my family loved it and then it was easy Peezy cleanup thanks guys for your recipes and your time! Ps love some air fry recipes tooooo!
Lilian Vallezi says
Hi Angel! Thanks for coming back to share your comment! I'm so glad you and your family liked it!!