White fish baked in a folded parchment packet over zucchini and lemon with fresh herbs, steaming in its own moisture

Some nights there is nothing left in you for an elaborate dinner, and this is the recipe for exactly that. Fold fish, zucchini, herbs, and lemon into a parchment packet, slide it into the oven, and let steam do the cooking for you. 15 minutes and almost no cleanup, which feels like real relief when cooking is 1 more task on a long list.

B12 shows up strong in white fish like haddock, tied to nerve function and to the steady energy that Autoimmune fatigue often chips away at. Selenium is in there too, useful for thyroid and antioxidant work.

Open the packet at the table instead of at the counter, and let the steam and the smell of lemon and thyme be part of the meal. A small pause before you eat is not nothing, especially when there is not much left in you to give.

Ingredients

• 1 TBSP olive oil
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme, or 2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 lemon, sliced thin
• 2 fillets haddock or other white fish
• Sea salt
• Black pepper, omitted for the AIP elimination phase

Method

1. Heat the oven to 400 F and cut two large pieces of parchment paper, each big enough to fold over a fillet and seal.
2. Brush the center of each parchment piece lightly with olive oil. Lay a bed of sliced zucchini on each.
3. Scatter some cilantro, parsley, and green onion over the zucchini, and lay a few lemon slices on top.
4. Pat the fish dry, season with sea salt, and set a fillet on each bed. Top with a sprig of thyme and a little more of the fresh herbs.
5. Fold the parchment over the fish and crimp the edges tightly to seal the packet so the steam stays in.
6. Set the packets on a baking sheet and bake until the fish flakes easily, about 12 to 15 minutes depending on thickness.
7. Open the packets carefully, watching for steam, and serve right away.

Notes

• Black pepper is omitted because peppercorn is excluded in the AIP elimination phase. The dish is fully seasoned by the herbs, lemon, and sea salt without it.
• Servings and total time are not given in the source. The recipe yields 2 packets from 2 fillets; bake time depends on fillet thickness.
• Zucchini can be swapped for another quick-cooking vegetable that holds moisture well.
• Aside from omitting the black pepper, no swaps were needed; the recipe is otherwise AIP-compliant.

*Adapted from healmedelicious.com*