Sounds tedious, but is easy and delicious. Plus younger children will think it’s cool!
4 chicken fillets or boneless breast portions (substitute tofu)
2 small leeks, sliced
2 carrots, grated
4 stoned black olives, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
4 9x9 pieces of wax paper
1-2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
black olives and herb sprigs, to garnish
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Season the chicken well.
Divide the leeks equally among four sheets of greased wax paper, about 9 inches square. Place a piece of chicken on top of each.
Mix the carrots, olives, garlic and oil together. Season lightly and place on top of the chicken portions. Then carefully wrap up each parcel, making sure the paper folds are underneath and the carrot mixture on top.
Bake for 20 minutes and serve hot in the paper, garnished with black olives and herb sprigs.
Serves 4.
From Hilaire Walden’s Traditional British Cooking (Bristol: Anness, 1997)