Papillote of seafood

• splashes of olive oil2
• red onion↗1

  halved and cut lengthways into slim wedges

• spring onions↗2

  finely sliced on the diagonal

• baby fennel bulbs2

  (or 1 small regular one), finely sliced on the diagonal

• a nugget of fresh root ginger

  peeled and very thinly sliced

• stalk of lemongrass↗1

  finely sliced on the diagonal

• star anise2
• a small handful of fresh coriander

  roughly chopped

• garlic clove↗1

  finely chopped

• bag mussels↗600g g

  scrubbed

• shelled raw tiger prawns140g g

  defrosted if frozen

• about 100ml/3½ fl oz white wine
• about 3-4 tbsp coconut milk
• non-stick baking parchmenttwo 30 x 42cm sheets of

  two 30 x 42cm sheets of (approx A3 size) and string

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 220C/ gas 7/fan 200C. Heat a splash of oil in a large saucepan, add the onion, spring onions, fennel, ginger, lemongrass, star anise and coriander and toss over a high heat for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.

2. 2

   Throw in the garlic and season to taste, then shoot in the mussels and prawns and splash in the wine – just enough to moisten the mussels without drowning them. Cover and cook for 30 seconds -1 minute only, then remove from the heat and check the mussels are open – if they’re not, put the pan back on the heat for a few seconds until they are.

3. 3

   Scoop the mussels and vegetables out into a bowl, using a slotted spoon (leave the juices in the pan). Pour the coconut milk into the pan (use the same quantity as the liquid already there) and boil for about 4 minutes until reduced to a thickish, syrupy jus. Return the mussels and vegetables to the pan, drizzle with a little oil and shake to mix everything together.

4. 4

   Take a sheet of non-stick baking parchment and push it into a deep medium-sized saucepan. Spoon in half the mussels and vegetables and one star anise. Lift the paper out and twist the top to make a money bag. Tie tightly with string then make another bag. 5 Stand the bags in a large baking dish or roasting tin, then give them a quick blast in the oven for 3-4 minutes – just until you can see the crunched tops of the paper start to scorch. Lift the bags out, stand each one on a plate and untie. At the table, open the bags and breathe in the wonderful aroma before tucking in.