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Cod En Papillote – Greek Style

Published on: February 19, 2024
An opened parchment paper packet filled with Cod, tomatoes, olives and capers. Lemon slices are on the sides with fresh oregano. A side salad is in the background

Imagine, sitting down to dinner and enjoying a perfectly cooked piece of fish, infused with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, all wrapped up like a gift. My Greek-style Cod En Papillote delivers all that plus!

This easy dinner for two is simple enough for a weeknight dinner or fancy enough for a cozy date night at home. 

Now, before you get intimidated by this French term, let me reassure you—it’s simpler than it sounds. En Papillote means “cooked and served in paper.” Yes, it is easy and it’s as delicious as it sounds.

This cooking method is a clever way to steam seafood perfectly – while keeping cleanup to a minimum. Think of it as a flavor-packed parcel where your fish, along with herbs, spices, and veggies, mingle and combine into something truly special. 

In this recipe, I combined a few traditional Greek-style ingredients and put them inside the pouch with the cod. The result? A bright, tender, and slightly salty cod fillet and vegetables. Serve it with a side salad for a light and healthy seafood dinner.

What You Will Need to Make It

Let’s dive into what you will need to make my Greek-style cod En Papillote.

Cod:

Two, 6 to 8-ounce cod fillets. Cod is a heavier white fish and is perfect for this type of cooking method. It has a light, mild flavor so it pulls in the other flavors from the ingredients it is steaming with. 

Grape Tomatoes:

Cut in half, or quarters for larger tomatoes, the juice seeps into the fish adding a light tomatoey flavor. You could also dice a Roma tomato or a few cherry tomatoes. Ideally, a lower-moisture tomato is best so that a minimal amount of liquid is released while cooking.

Kalamata Olives:

These classic Greek olives are often found preserved in wine vinegar. They add a slightly sweet flavor to the cod and I love the burst of purple color against the white fish and red tomatoes.

Shallot:

Using slices of shallot as a base for the fish to sit on lifts the fish off the paper and helps infuse the cod with a mild onion and sweet garlic flavor. I chose a larger-sized shallot so the slices were large enough for the fillet to sit on and cut the shallot into 4, 1/4-inch slices.

Capers:

These salty little green berries add a burst of bright flavor and saltiness that infuses throughout the cod. 

What are capers? They are little flower buds of a caper bush found throughout the Mediterranean area. They are picked when they are very small and immature and packed in a brine, similar to what olives are packed in to preserve them. 

Lemon:

Can it be a seafood dish without a bit of lemon? I add a couple of slices of lemon on the sides of the cod before I wrap it up and squeeze just a little lemon juice over the top. Lemon always adds a burst of freshness to a dish and this is no exception. Plus it just pairs well with the other ingredients that are packed inside.

Oregano:

Fresh or dried oregano will work, although a sprig of fresh oregano seems to infuse more flavor than dried but use what you have! Either add a slight peppery flavor. It is a classic flavor in many Greek dishes just remember a little goes a long way! 

How to Make It

A white plate with Cod that has been baked in parchment paper with tomatoes, olives, capers and lemons.
Greek-Style Cod En Papillote

While wrapping the fish in parchment paper, or the En papillote technique, may look difficult, it is a simple and very flavorful way to cook fish. Watch my video in Step 3 to see how to fold and wrap the parchment paper and then give it a try!

Step 1: Organize

Cut 2, 12 x 12 pieces of parchment paper. (You can use foil if you don’t have parchment paper) 

Place the sheet on a cutting board and assemble all of your ingredients. Sprinkle the cod with a little black pepper. Preheat the oven and get a sheet pan ready.

Step 2: Assemble Packets

Place 2 slices of shallots in the middle of the parchment paper. Place the cod on top and then add half of each of the tomatoes, olives, and capers on top of the cod. Put one lemon slice on each side of the cod and a sprig of oregano on top.

Step 3: Wrap the Packets

There are a couple of different ways to seal these packets. I’m showing you what I think is the simplest way in this video, but just know others may show a different method. As long as you get a good tightly sealed packet, either will work!

How to Cook Fish in Parchment Paper

Pull two sides of the parchment to the center, directly over top of the cod and ingredients. Fold the two sides together, about a ¼ inch, and crease it. Continue folding it over, creasing as you go until it is just snug on top of the fish and ingredients. 

Turn it a quarter and roll the side up the same way, creasing as you go. Turn it to the other side and do the same. You’ll have a nice packet that you can then place on the sheet pan.

Step 4: Bake the Fish

Place both packets on a sheet pan. Put it in the middle of a preheated oven and bake them for 15 – 20 minutes. Check to make sure they are done by piercing the packet with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the fish fillet. The temperature should be 135°F. (it will rise to 140°F by the time it is served)

Variations

You could use another fish if you can’t find cod or prefer something else. I recommend using another firm, mild white fish like haddock. If you use a lighter, more tender fish, decrease the cooking time.

In place of fresh tomatoes, you could use canned. They will add more liquid to the packet so just be aware of that.

You can use dried oregano in place of fresh or if you don’t like oregano, replace it with basil and some parsley. 

Storage Tips

For best results enjoy this dish right out of the oven. However, if you can’t eat all of it, you can refrigerate the leftovers for a day. This recipe will not freeze well so it is best to only make what you will eat. This is perfect for just one or two servings and comes together quickly. It is an easy weeknight meal!

Other Recipes You Will Love

If you love seafood, I have you covered! Here are a few more seafood recipes to check out!

Cod Veracruz

Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl

Shrimp in Tomato Sauce with Artichokes

If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a 5-star rating below! This helps me know what you like, and it helps other people find delicious recipes when they search! Thanks so much for supporting my blog, I truly appreciate it!

An opened parchment paper packet filled with Cod, tomatoes, olives and capers. Lemon slices are on the sides with fresh oregano. A side salad is in the background

Cod En Papillote, Greek-Style

A savory cod fillet steamed inside parchment paper with tomatoes, olives, and capers. An easy dinner for two!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Entree
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 2
Calories 220 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Sheetpan
  • Parchment Paper

Ingredients
  

  • 2 each cod fillets 6 – 8 ounces each
  • 1 each shallot sliced in ¼ inch-thick rounds
  • ¼ cup kalamata olives cut in half or sliced
  • ½ cup halved grape tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp capers drained
  • 1 each lemon
  • 2 each sprigs fresh oregano
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉. Cut 2 squares of parchment paper (12 x 12 inches). Pull out a sheet pan and set it aside.

Assemble the Packets

  • Pat the cod fillets with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Season with a little black pepper.
  • Place 2 – 3 shallot slices in the middle of each square of parchment paper. Place the cod fillet on the top of the shallots.
  • Top each piece of cod with half the olives, tomatoes, and capers. Place a lemon slice on each side of the cod. Add a sprig of oregano on top of each and drizzle with a little lemon juice.

Wrap the Packets

  • Bring two sides up over the top of the fish and ingredients and bring them together. Roll them over about ¼ – ½ inch and crease along the edge. Keep rolling and creasing until the parchment is sitting on top of the fish and ingredients.
  • Turn the packet ¼ and do the same on the end. Repeat with the other end until you have a sealed packet. Place each packet on the sheet pan.

Bake the Packets

  • Place the sheet pan in the middle of the preheated oven and allow the fish to bake for about 15 minutes. (Thicker pieces of fish may take a bit longer.)
  • Pierce the packet with an instant-read thermometer and gently push the tip of the thermometer into the middle of the fish. The fish is done when it registers 135℉.
  • Place the packet on a plate and serve. You and your guests can open the packet at the table. You will get the full delicious aroma as you open the packet and the steam escapes. Serve with a salad on the side.

Nutrition

Serving: 8ozCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 32gFat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 560mgPotassium: 465mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin C: 20mgVitamin D: 2µgCalcium: 60mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Cooking in Parchment, Date night dinner, Dinner for two, Seafood, Steamed fish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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MEET THE AUTHOR
Laura M. Ali, RD holding a bowl of pomegranate seeds

Hi! I’m Laura!

I love to cook and share simple tricks and tips to make healthy meals taste delicious.

My goal is to create delicious meals that will support your health and give you energy, along with a sprinkling of nutrition and health information to help you enjoy a long and vibrant life!


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