Maggie Beer's Snapper in a Parcel

Ingredients

Extra virgin olive oil, for cooking
1 small fennel bulb, trimmed and sliced, fronds reserved
4 × 200g snapper fillets of equal thickness, skin removed
1 Meyer lemon, sliced
Handful fresh chervil sprigs or bay leaves, optional
Sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Heat a little extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan, then sauté the fennel over medium heat until cooked through.

Preheat the oven to 200 C. Liberally oil 4 sheets of baking paper or foil large enough to wrap the fish fillets. Arrange the cooked fennel and reserved fronds on the paper as a bed for the fish. Position the fillets on top, then add the lemon slices, followed by the chervil or bay leaves if using.

Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, then season and carefully fold in the edges to seal the parcel. Transfer the parcels to a baking tray (a scone tray is ideal for this) and bake for 8 minutes. Let the fish rest for another 5 minutes before serving.

When everyone opens their parcels they will be surrounded by a wonderful aroma as the juices spill onto the plate. Drizzle over a little more extra virgin olive oil, add a boiled waxy spud and a green vegie, or salad and your meal is complete.

Credits: Recipes from the book Maggie Beer’s Spring Harvest Recipes by Maggie Beer, with photography by Mark Chew, published by Lantern, rrp $29.99.

Photo Credits: Recipes from the book Maggie Beer’s Spring Harvest Recipes by Maggie Beer, with photography by Mark Chew, published by Lantern, rrp $29.99.