Delicious and easy salmon en papillote recipe ready in 30 minutes. Despite the relentless pace of our weekly routines, this straightforward method slides effortlessly into your weeknight culinary repertoire, offering a gourmet dining experience without the fuss.
Recipe Science
- Cooking salmon en papillote uses steam trapped within parchment paper to gently cook the fish, retaining moisture and enhancing its tender texture.
- The enclosed environment concentrates flavors, as the steam carries aromatic compounds from herbs, lemon, and other ingredients directly into the salmon.
- The high heat of the oven creates steam quickly, ensuring the fish cooks evenly and infusing it with the combined flavors of the enclosed ingredients.
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Featured Comment 38
“Thanks for the recipe and the technique! I made it tonight, and it was delicious! So easy for a first-timer en papillote.”—Erin
Why It Works
For those evenings when you crave a seafood feast, let me introduce you to the en papillote technique, a sophisticated French term for “in parchment,” which creates a steamy cocoon for cooking. It combines vegetables, fragrant herbs, and a choice of protein—be it succulent fish or tender chicken—within a neatly folded parchment paper pouch.
This particular recipe brings salmon and a medley of vegetables to the table, promising a meal that’s as nutritious as it is rich in flavor. To elevate the experience further, I’ve incorporated a luscious basil compound butter, melting seamlessly into the dish during baking and infusing it with aromatics.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Compound Butter: To add richness and flavor to the salmon pouches, compound butter is made with unsalted butter, sliced basil, chopped parsley, and salt.
- Salmon: Salmon is packed with health benefits like brain and heart health. I use rich Atlantic salmon, but other types of salmon work well. Use fillets 4 to 6 ounces in size, with the salmon skin removed.
- Vegetables: A combination of thinly sliced red onions, shredded carrots, and asparagus spears are selected because they cook quickly in the oven.
- Herbs and Seasoning: Sliced green onions, fresh garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper enhance the dish’s taste.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
The salmon en papillote recipe is so fun and easy to prepare that you’ll want to try different flavors! Try these tasty options:
- Fish: Instead of salmon, try snapper, tilapia, mahi-mahi, or halibut. A 4 to 6-ounce fillet works well.
- Vegetables: Select vegetables that cook relatively fast. Green beans, thinly sliced zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, fennel, leeks, or shallots. No root vegetables like potatoes or sweet potatoes unless you slice them very thin. Try adding zoodles!
- Citrus: Add lemon slices to the pouch for a stronger flavor. Orange zest and slices work well too.
- Herbs: Add sliced chives, fresh dill, tarragon, thyme, or rosemary.
- Compound Butter: Add different fresh herbs to the mixture. Make it spicy with cayenne or chipotle. Add sweet or smoked paprika for earthiness and color.
How to Make Salmon En Papillote
Step 1: Make Compound Butter
Make a simple herb compound butter with basil, parsley, lemon zest, and salt to melt on top of the ingredients. Cover it with plastic wrap and shape it into a log for easy slicing. Freeze it until it firms up for a slow melt in the oven.
Pro Tip: Adding one tablespoon of the softened compound butter on top of the salmon is okay if you’re short on time.
Step 2: Preheat the Oven
Before assembling the salmon pouches, preheat the oven to 450°F (232ºC). This hot environment will quickly cook the fish and veggies.
Step 3: Prepare the Paper Pouches
To create the pouch, tear off two pieces of parchment paper about 18 x 15 inches in size or use large precut sheets. Fold it in half lengthwise, then cut a half-heart shape like you would in elementary school. Open it up and brush it with vegetable oil or drizzle with olive oil to create a nonstick surface.
Step 4: Layer the Salmon and Vegetables
Add the ingredients on one side of the folded heart. Start with the sliced onions, carrots, and asparagus spears to create a bed on which to place the salmon filet. Season the fish with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Add the Compound Butter
Add minced garlic, lemon zest, and a slice of the basil compound butter on top of the salmon. The butter will melt as the pouch steams during baking, creating a rich sauce. The smell of fresh herbs, citrus, and alliums creates an enticing aroma when the pouches are opened.
Step 6: Seal the Paper Pouches
How you fold the edges is essential to ensuring that the steam generated inside the pouch stays trapped. Fold the paper over and tightly crimp the edges.
The pouch should look like paper empanadas or potstickers.
Step 7: Bake the Salmon en Papillote
Place the pounces on a baking sheet pan. The pouch only takes 8 to 10 minutes to puff up with steam, and the paper turns brown from the heat. The salmon is ready when the flesh easily flakes off but is not dried out.
Add several more minutes for thick fillets or larger pieces. The herbs, butter, and juices from the fish season the bed of vegetables, making the whole meal delicious.
Step 8: Ready to Serve
This dish is impressive because you can serve the salmon en papillote and let guests open it up and enjoy the fragrant steam. Alternatively, I use kitchen shears to cut open the pouches.
Serve with a fresh lemon wedge, squeezing the lemon juice right on top. If you have extra compound butter, you can even add it.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 6-ounce skinless salmon fillet takes about 8 to 10 minutes when baked at 450 degrees. Larger pieces, around 8 ounces, require a few additional minutes. The fish is ready when it’s flakey in the center. Add more time if it’s not entirely done cooking.
Yes, you can create an aluminum foil pouch instead of a parchment packet. It’s harder to see the steam puff up and paper brown. But you can carefully open the pouch and add more baking time to cook the fish fully.
With this method, you must seal the protein, vegetables, and seasonings in the paper pouch. The key is baking at high oven temperatures or 450 degrees. Moisture is released from the salmon and vegetables as they cook, and the liquid turns to steam at constant high temperatures above 212 degrees. The trapped steam quickly cooks the ingredients. When the paper puffs up and expands, that means steam has built up and has cooked the food inside.
Serve This With
If you tried this Salmon En Papillote, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Salmon En Papillote with Vegetables
Ingredients
Basil Compound Butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons sliced basil
- 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Salmon and Vegetables
- 2 pieces parchment paper, 18 by 15 inches
- vegetable oil, for brushing
- 1 cup sliced red onions, ⅛" thick
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed to 6", about 18 spears
- 2 salmon fillets, 6 ounces each, skin removed
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons sliced green onions
- kosher salt, for seasoning
- black pepper, to seasoning
- 2 lemon wedges
Instructions
- Make the Compound Butter – In a small bowl, combine softened butter, basil, parsley, lemon zest, basil, and salt. Transfer to plastic wrap and twist tightly to create a small butter log. Place it in the freezer while continuing with the other steps. When ready to use, slice into 4 portions.
- Heat the Oven – Set the oven rack to the center position. Preheat oven to 450°F (232ºC).
- Prepare the Paper Pouches – Cut two 18 x 15-inch pieces of parchment paper. Fold the long side in half and cut it into half of a heart shape. The parchment paper should be large enough to contain one portion of fish and vegetables folded in half. Open up the paper, and brush the inside with vegetable oil.
- Assemble the Salmon and Vegetables – Evenly portion the sliced onion, carrots, and asparagus spears on half of each piece of oiled parchment paper. Place one piece of salmon on top of the bed of vegetables. Generously season with salt and pepper.
- Add Seasonings and Compound Butter – Top each portion of fish with sliced garlic, ½ teaspoon of lemon zest, and 1 teaspoon sliced green onions. Add 1 slice of compound butter on top.
- Seal the Paper Pouches – Fold the other half of the parchment paper over the fish and vegetables. Starting at one corner, tightly crimp the edges to seal it tightly.
- Bake – Place the pouches on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The parchment paper should puff up and brown slightly.
- To Serve – Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Transfer to a plate. Carefully cut open and serve with lemon wedges and any remaining compound butter.
Notes
- Butter: The compound butter can be refrigerated and made 5 days in advance.
- Meal Prep: The pouches can be assembled 1 day in advance.
- Foil: If you don’t have parchment paper, you can make pouches with foil.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Rhonda Duffy says
Jessica, this salmon recipe is a real winner. I discovered it 6 years ago, made it and gave it an A+, put it in my files and have served it many times since, including this evening to my gourmet club.
I just wonder: why cut the parchment in a heart shape?
Please reply,
Rhonda Duffy
Jessica Gavin says
I’m so glad that you are enjoying the salmon en papillote recipe! Cutting the parchment paper in a heart shape allows for a tight, secure seal to trap steam, ensuring the fish cooks quickly and stays moist, while also creating a gourmet presentation. I learned that technique in culinary school and it works well.
Ric says
This is a great dish. I used French green beans and thin carrot strips. It turned out perfect, and the use of the compound butter was genius. Thank you.
Jessica Gavin says
So thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the salmon en papillote recipe!
Hank says
Best salmon dish we have ever had! Just added some dill, and long grain rice on the very bottom.
I will be making this for my wife and her girlfriends in two weeks!
Your meals are very simple to make, and amazing to eat🕴️🕴️🕴️
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks Hank! I love that you added rice and dill to the salmon recipe, delicious!
Ken says
Is parchment mandatory to work or can a flat braiser or cast iron skillet with lid work? I’d think it’d be ok if I preheated the pan.
Jessica Gavin says
You can make the salmon in the braiser or cast iron skillet. If needed, you can add some additional moisture to the pan after checking if the pan begins to get dry but the salmon is not done cooking.
cheryl says
Got the cookbook for Christmas and Absolutely LOVE It!
Jessica Gavin says
Yay! I’m so happy that you are enjoying my cookbook, Cheryl!
Karen Fenichel says
I made this with sugar snap peas and shallots and very thinnly sliced carrots. It was excellent. Would definitely recommend.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you, Karen! I love the addition of the sugar snap peas.
Lynn says
This was really excellent. Thinner salmon filet was perfect at 10 minutes. Had greens, onion, and carrots under and used olive oil instead of butter and still super. Gonna be weekly dinner!!
Jessica Gavin says
Great job, Lynn! Happy to hear that you will be making salmon in the oven more often.
Karen Teeling says
This great, BUT . . . I make meals for my mother that she can reheat in the microwave or bake in the oven later in the week or month. Can I put the papillotes together, freeze and let her bake later? If so any suggestions for when it is baked, thaw first, bake frozen and extend the time??? Thanks in advance
susyqstyles says
I made this dish last night; however, I used grouper instead. It was SO delish! Also, I wasn’t able to make the herb butter prior, but added before baking. Turned out amazing, fresh, and light! Will be making again for sure!
Jessica Gavin says
Great to hear that grouper works will in the paper wrap as well!
Kay Wakeham says
I love this meal. It is so satisfying and easy to make as well as to clean up after. I was so excited to actually find Alaskan King Salmon at my grocery store today. It is my favorite. I can’t wait to taste it in this recipe. Thanks Jessica for always delivering a winning meal!
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you for your feedback Kay, happy to help!