Can I just tell you how I have fallen in love with parchment cooking?  Seriously, folks.  You want to create a meal that is nearly fool-proof, fast, easy, AND results in no dishes to clean up?  Sounds crazy, but parchment cooking is the way to make that happen.  This endeavor resulted in delicious and perfectly cooked salmon with steamed spinach.  Can you get healthier?  Probably, but this is still a pretty rockin’ start.

To make this meal for 2, you will need:

4 c washed and torn spinach

2 filets of salmon, about 3-4 oz each.  Skin off or on, doesn’t matter.

1 orange, peeled and sliced crosswise into very thin slices

olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Cut two pieces of parchment paper, approximately 16″ square.  Place 2 c spinach in the center of each parchment square and top with some slices of orange.  Place the salmon on top of the orange and then drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  For added flavor, add some orange slices to the top of the salmon as well.  The result will look a little like this:

Bring the sides of the parchment that run parallel to the long sides of the fish together in a little peak over the fish.  Fold the paper over three times, or until it rests snugly on top of the fish.  Tuck the ends of the paper under the package and carefully place the package on a baking sheet.  Like this:

Bake in the preheated oven for 17-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.  You can carefully open the center fold and try to flake the fish with a fork.  If it doesn’t flake easily, just refold and pop it back in the oven for a few more minutes.  Serve along side couscous or anything else you think would balance out this tasty meal!