Cornish Game Hens Sherry Flambe Recipes

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small mixing bowl, stir together salt, lemon pepper, dried basil and poultry seasoning. Rub olive oil all over the hens and season each with the salt mixture. Place the hens on a baking sheet pan with plenty of space between them. You may need to use 2 pans. Loosely stuff the cavities of each hen with some green bell pepper, celery and onion. Roast the hens in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear. Remove the hens from the oven, loosely tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before carving or serving.

BAKED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a small bowl combine the 1/2 cup melted butter, onion, celery, bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, basil, oregano and parsley.
• Season hens inside and out with salt and pepper to taste, then stuff with equal amounts butter/vegetable mixture. Place stuffed birds in a 9x13 inch baking dish, breast side up. Drizzle with 1/4 cup melted butter.
• Cover dish and bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours. Remove cover and brown at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• In a large, non-reactive bowl, mix onion, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, white wine, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, pepper, celery salt, and salt. Place Cornish game hens in the bowl, coating evenly with the marinade mixture. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Cook hens about 1 hour on the prepared grill, brushing occasionally with remaining marinade, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

FLAMING SHERRIED ROCK CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove giblets from defrosted birds and discard.
• Melt butter in a heavy skillet with heat-proof handle.
• Season hens with salt and pepper.
• Brown hens lightly all over in the butter, turning frequently, about 20 minutes.
• When hens are browned, add sherry to the pan and transfer it to the oven.
• Roast the hens 45 - 60 minutes, until they are tender, basting often.
• Transfer hens to heated and heat-proof serving dish.
• Invite your guests to the kitchen to "watch the show.".
• Warm brandy in a small sauce pan and ignite it with a long handled match.
• Pour over the hens and serve flaming.

CORNISH GAME HENS SHERRY FLAMBE

Steps:

• Remove giblets from defrosted birds.
• Melt the butter in a heavy skillet with heat-proof handle.
• Season hens with salt and pepper, then brown lightly all over in the butter, turning frequently. This should take about 20 minutes.
• When hens are browned, add sherry to the pan and transfer it to the oven.
• Roast birds 45-60 minutes, until they are tender, basting often.
• Transfer hens to heated (and heatproof) serving dish. Warm brandy in a small saucepan and ignite it. Pour over the hens and serve flaming.

CORNISH GAME HENS FLAMBé

Steps:

• Sauté onion in butter until tender; add the mushroom and ham and cook 3 to 5 more minutes or until the mushrooms are tender. Combine the mushroom mixture, rice, 2 to 4 tablespoons brandy, marjoram, and thyme.
• Remove the giblets from hens (reserve for another use). Rinse hens with cold water and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stuff hens lightly with rice stuffing. Close cavity and secure with toothpicks. Truss and place the hens breast side up in baking pan large enough to fit them.
• Bake hens at 350°F for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the hens' size.
• Place hens on serving platter.
• Combine the sherry and chicken broth; brush over hens. Heat 1/4 cup brandy in a small saucepan over medium heat (do NOT boil). Ignite with a long match and pour over hens after the flame dies down. Serve immediately.

ROCK CORNISH GAME HEN WITH CRANBERRY-PECAN STUFFING --

Steps:

• 1. Remove giblets from the defrosted hen. Rinse in cold water and pat dry before stuffing.
• 2. Brown the bread crumbs in butter, add the nuts, salt and pepper. Stir in the dried cranberries.
• 3. Fill the game hen cavity, loosely, with the crumb mixture.
• 4. Combine the honey, orange juice concentrate, butter and paprika, stir well.
• 5. Place the stuffed hen in a shallow roasting pan. Brush with the honey butter.
• 6. While roasting the hen, baste several more times to achieve a nice brown coating.
• 7. Roast 350 degrees, about 1 hour, or until the drumstick feels loose.
• 8. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
• Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

ROCK CORNISH GAME HENS IN RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Clean birds and pat dry.
• Pour 2 tablespoons oil into a 10- to 12- inch frying pan over medium high heat. Add birds, a few at a time (do not over-crowd), and brown all over, about 5 minutes per bird; add oil as needed.
• Arrange birds, breast up and slightly apart, on a rack in a 12 X 17" roasting pan.
• Roast birds at 375 F oven until breasts are moist in center but not wet-looking (cut into breast just above wing joint to test), 1 hours (internal temp should be 165 degrees).
• Remove birds to a platter; if needed, keep warm in a 150°F oven up to 30 minutes. Reserve roasting juices.
• Make sauce: Add to your frying pan sugar and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
• Cook over medium high heat until sugar liquefies and turns a golden caramel color, 3 to 5 minutes.
• While stirring, add remaining vinegar; simmer, stirring, until caramel dissolves, about 2 minutes.
• Add broth and quail hen roasting juices; boil, uncovered, until reduce by half, about 15 minutes.
• Mix cornstarch and water; stir into sauce. Stir until boiling. Add raspberries, brandy, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour sauce over the birds and serve.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SWEET ONION COMPOTE

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cook until onions are golden, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add wine and cook until onions are very tender and mixture is reduced to thick jamlike consistency, stirring frequently, about 40 minutes. Set compote aside.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add hen quarters and brown well on all sides, about 8 minutes. Place hen quarters on rimmed baking sheet (do not clean skillet). Sprinkle hens with salt and pepper. Bake hen quarters until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer hen quarters to bowl; cover to keep warm. Add drippings from baking sheet, vinegar and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar to skillet used to brown hens. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add stock and bring to boil. Mix remaining 4 tablespoons butter and flour in small bowl, forming paste. Whisk paste into stock mixture. Boil until thickened to sauce consistency, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Rewarm onion compote; spoon onto center of each plate. Arrange 2 hen quarters around compote. Spoon sauce over. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.