Ingredient
Paperbark is a soft and flexible bark from the melaleuca tree which is found in swamp regions throughout Australia. Paperbark was very important to the aboriginal people as they used it for making baskets to carry things as well as to protect foods when they were being cooked. They even made paperbark canoes out of the larger paperbark sheets.
Paperbark imparts a delicate smokey flavour which works best with white meats and starchy vegetables which are slowly cooked in the paperbark so that the smoke created when the natural oils in the bark are combusted and absorbed into the fats in the food. Cooking in paperbark is definitely a healthy way of cooking and can best be described as steaming and smoking at the same time.
There are two main ways to use paperbark in cooking. The first way is to cut a few slices off the paperbark roll and line a frying pan. Then place the foods on top of the paperbark and cover with a lid. You’ll then heat the frying pan till very hot and the paperbark begins to smoke, then reduce the heat and slowly cook the foods till done. This method is particularly good for smoking smaller foods like oysters or shellfish which don’t take that long to cook.
The second and slower method of cooking with paperbark is to wrap the foods much like using banana leaves. This method is ideal for larger foods like a whole fish, vegetables or even a prime rib roast. The ideas are endless. Simply take the smooth side of the paperbark and lightly oil it with vegetable oil, then season or spice up your meats or vegetables as required. Then wrap the foods like a present and tie off with cotton twine. Seal both sides of the paperbark parcel directly onto a dry heavy pan or on a hotplate over medium heat till each side is burning and smoking, then transfer to a hot oven to finish. The food being smoked results will remain moist, yet have a subtle and smokey flavour. Cooking in the paper also provides for maximum presentation and visual appeal.
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Other recipes with Paperbark Roll
Wrapping a snapper fillet in paperbark would probably be one of the easiest recipes of all time
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A vegetarian dish thats exciting and different. Served with bush tomato chutney and macadamia nuts.
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This recipe of paperbark smoked baby barramundi is great to impress friends and family and is really easy to cook.
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australian food
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aboriginal
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bush tucker
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australia day
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aboriginal food