Gift Packages

Gift packages, which are sometimes referred to with the French term “paupiettes” or “papillote” if cooked en papillote, are rolls of meat or fish that encapsulate a flavorful filling. They can be made with different types of meat such as veal, chicken, or fish like sea bass or salmon, and the filling can vary widely.

Here I present an Italian version of the gift packages, using meat as an example.

Ingredients

• 4 thin slices of meat (veal or beef)
• 4 slices of cured ham
• 4 slices of cheese (fontina or scamorza)
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Meat broth or white wine for cooking

Preparation

1. Lay out the meat slices and gently beat them if necessary to ensure they are thin enough.
2. Season the meat with salt and pepper on both sides.
3. Place a slice of ham and a slice of cheese on each meat slice.
4. Add a sage leaf and some chopped rosemary.
5. Roll the meat around the filling to form tight little packages.
6. Secure the gift packages with toothpicks or kitchen twine to prevent them from opening during cooking.
7. In a pan, heat the oil and fry the gift packages on all sides until they are well browned.
8. Pour in a bit of hot broth or white wine, cover, and let simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes, or until the meat is tender and the cooking liquid has partially reduced.

You can serve your gift packages with a side of vegetables or mashed potatoes. Remember to remove the toothpicks or kitchen twine before serving!

Trivia

The term “gift package” in cuisine suggests an elegant presentation and a surprise in the filling, just like when unwrapping a real present. This preparation allows for a great variety of flavor combinations and is perfect for special occasions.