Heathers Rosemary Citrus Cornish Hens Recipes

CORNISH HENS WITH LEMON AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place hens in a roasting pan, breast sides up. Place 2 thyme sprigs and 1 lemon half in cavity of each hen. Loosen skin from breast, and place remaining thyme and the parsley underneath. Squeeze remaining lemon halves over hens. Rub butter all over hens. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Roast hens, rotating pan halfway through, until skin turns golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees, 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise. Garnish with thyme sprigs, and serve with lemon wedges.

HEATHER'S ROSEMARY CITRUS CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Bring the vegetable broth, 4 1/2 cups of water, the allspice berries, black peppercorns, and kosher salt to a boil in a large pot, stirring to dissolve the salt. Remove the brine from the heat, and set aside to cool. When the brine is cool, place the Cornish hens into the brine and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the game hens from the brine, and pat dry. Discard the brine.
• Place the cut-up grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, rosemary, and thyme into a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on High for 2 minutes; with tongs, stuff the fruit and herbs into the cavities of the Cornish hens. Slather each hen with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Place the stuffed hens into a roasting dish, breast sides up.
• Roast in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). For extra-crispy skin, turn the oven heat up to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Allow the hens to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

GARLIC-ROSEMARY CORNISH HEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Place hens, breast side up, over lemon and rosemary in an ungreased 11x7-in. baking dish. Brush with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add garlic to pan. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°. , Pour broth and wine over hen and bake 10-15 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°, basting twice with pan juices. Remove hen to serving plates and keep warm., Transfer pan juices to a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-7 minutes or until pan juices reach desired consistency. Strain juices and serve with hen.

ROAST CORNISH HENS WITH ROSEMARY, POTATOES, LEMONS & WINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the chicken or game hens liberally with some of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper inside and out. Sprinkle with paprika.
• Place the lemon quarters in the cavity, giving each (lemon) a little squeeze to release the oil from the skins.
• Season the potatoes with salt and pepper and toss them with the rest of the olive oil and the rosemary leaves. Spread them around the chicken in a large baking pan.
• Fold a piece of aluminum foil double into a rectangle about the size of the chicken. Grease it down the middle, making a little tent, and lay the foil loosely over the breast.
• Roast the chicken for 45 minutes, basting 2 to 3 times with the fat in the pan.
• Add the wine (it will quickly evaporate in the hot oven, leaving a lovely flavor in the potatoes), remove the foil, and cook for 15 to 20 more minutes.
• If the breast is not browned enough, turn on the broiler for a few seconds to crisp the skin, but watch carefully so as not to burn your masterpiece.
• Carve the large chicken or split the game hens and serve with the potatoes and the pan juices poured over the chicken.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC & ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Rub hens with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig of rosemary in each cavity. Arrange in a large roasting pan and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven temp to 350°F (175°C). In mixing bowl combine wine, broth and 2 tbsp of olive oil and pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes or longer (I cooked total 1 hr 15 min), until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
• Transfer hens to platter, pouring cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens to keep warm with tin foil. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. (I mashed garlic). Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon garlic sauce around hens. Garnish with rosemary and serve.