Pineapple Glazed Game Hens Recipes

GLAZED HENS WITH CUCUMBER-CANTALOUPE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Season the hens all over with salt and pepper, place on a rack in a roasting pan and roast 15 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the chili sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, olive oil and 2 teaspoons salt in a measuring cup to dissolve the sugar. Set half of the mixture aside in a bowl for the salad. Baste the hens with some of the remaining dressing, then rotate the pan and continue to cook until the hens are golden and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 160 degrees F, about 20 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel and thinly slice the cantaloupe and shallot. Peel the cucumber, then halve lengthwise, seed and thinly slice. Toss the cantaloupe, shallot and cucumber with the reserved dressing. Divide the salad among plates. Use kitchen shears to cut each hen in half and place one half on each plate. Drizzle the pan juices over the hens and salad.

MAPLE-GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CARROTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stir together maple syrup and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Using kitchen twine, tie hen legs together, then tuck wing tips underneath. Place hens on a rimmed baking sheet and rub with 1 teaspoon oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Roast 10 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and add carrots, onion, garlic, and thyme. Toss vegetables with 2 teaspoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast 20 minutes.
• Brush hens with maple mixture. Continue to roast, brushing twice more, until juices run clear when hens are pierced between breast and leg or an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of a thigh (avoiding bone) registers 165 degrees, about 15 minutes. Transfer hens to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile, toss vegetables with lemon juice. Carve hens and serve with vegetables.

GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT PISTACHIO DRESSING

Steps:

• Brining the hens before roasting improves their flavor: Dissolve 2 cups of kosher salt in a clean bucket filled with 5 quarts of water. Add prepared hens and soak for 2 hours. Rinse thoroughly; pat dry.
• Adjust oven rack to upper middle position, and heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Heat oil in a large skillet. Saute onions until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in apricots, then spread mixture onto a large (about 18-by-12-inch) lipped cookie sheet. Lay hens over the mixture. Mix jam and vinegar, and brush all but a few tablespoons over hens.
• Bake hens, brushing 2 or 3 times with remaining jam mixture and accumulated pan juices, until hens are golden brown and juices run clear, about 45 minutes. Turn heat from bake to broil, then cook until hens are spotty brown, watching carefully so they don't burn, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer hens to a large platter with tongs, then cut in half at the breastbone to create individual servings.
• Return apricot dressing to the oven and broil to evaporate some of the excess liquid, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in pistachios and parsley. Spoon in a mound next to hens.

GLAZED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes. , In a small bowl, combine spreadable fruit and orange juice. Spoon some of the apricot mixture over the hens. Bake until golden brown and juices run clear, 30-35 minutes, basting several times with remaining apricot mixture. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

ROAST GAME HENS WITH PINEAPPLE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange game hens, breast side up, in 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Brush hens with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake uncovered 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk crushed pineapple, maple syrup, lemon juice, mustard and soy sauce in medium saucepan to combine. Baste hens with some of pineapple mixture. Continue roasting until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F, basting occasionally with more pineapple mixture, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer roasted game hens to serving platter. Tent with aluminum foil to keep warm. Scrape pan juices into remaining pineapple mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until pineapple sauce is reduced to 2/3 cup, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle hens with chopped fresh parsley. Serve hens warm, passing pineapple sauce separately.

GAME HENS WITH HONEY, VINEGAR AND SPICE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Remove giblets from game hens. Pat game hens dry. Tie legs of each game hen together to hold shape. Place game hens in large roasting pan. Combine olive oil, Sherry wine vinegar, honey, ground cumin, aniseed and ground cinnamon in heavy medium saucepan. Simmer until mixture thickens slightly, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Remove glaze from heat. Brush some of glaze over game hens. Sprinkle game hens generously with salt and pepper. Roast until last drops of juices run clear when thighs are pierced, basting every 10 minutes with glaze, about 55 minutes. Transfer game hens to plates and serve.

PINEAPPLE-STUFFED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt inside hens; set aside. Drain pineapple, reserving juice. In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, bread cubes, celery and coconut. Add 1/3 cup butter; toss to coat. Loosely stuff hens with mixture., Tuck wings under hens; tie legs together. Place on a rack in a greased shallow roasting pan. Place remaining stuffing in a greased 1-1/2-cup baking dish; cover and set aside. Add poultry seasoning and remaining salt to remaining butter. , Spoon some butter mixture over hens. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 minutes, basting twice with butter mixture., Add steak sauce and reserved pineapple juice to any remaining butter mixture; baste hens. Bake reserved stuffing with hens for 30 minutes, basting hens occasionally with remaining butter mixture., Uncover stuffing; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 185° for hens and 165° for stuffing in hens. Remove hens from pan; keep warm., Pour drippings into a saucepan; skim fat. Combine cornstarch, brown sugar, water and lemon juice; add to the drippings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with hens and stuffing.

APRICOT GINGER GAME HENS

Steps:

• In shallow dish, mix the soy sauce, apricot preserves, ginger, garlic, wine, and sugar. Place the hens in the dish, and coat with the marinade. Cover, and allow to marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Arrange the hen halves in a baking dish. Pour remaining marinade over the hens. Bake uncovered 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, basting frequently with the marinade, until hen juices run clear.

GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup of jelly and cinnamon in a small sauce pan.
• Heat and stir until melted; set aside.
• Place hen halves, skin side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan; sprinkle with salt.
• Roast in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
• Brush with the jelly/cinnamon mixture.
• Roast for 20 to 30 minutes longer or until browned and tender.
• While hens are roasting, cook rice and contents according to the package directions.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons apple jelly, grapes and celery.
• Sprinkle cashews over rice and serve with the hens.

PINEAPPLE-STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Sprinkle insides of hens with 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.
• Drain pineapple, reserving juice.
• In a bowl, combine the pineapple, bread cubes, celery and coconut.
• Add 6 Tablespoons butter; toss to coat.
• Loosely stuff hens; tie legs together with kitchen string.
• Place on a rack in a greased shallow roasting pan.
• Place remaining stuffing in a greased 1-1/2 cup baking dish; cover and set aside.
• Add poultry seasoning and remaining salt to remaining butter.
• Spoon some of the butter mixture over hens.
• Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, basting twice with butter mixture.
• Stir steak sauce and reserved pineapple juice into remaining butter mixture; baste hens.
• Bake reserved stuffing with hens for 30 minutes; baste hens twice.
• Uncover stuffing; baste hens with remaining butter mixture.
• Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until meat themometer reads 185 degrees for hens and 165 degrees for stuffing in hens.
• Remove hens from pan; keep warm.
• Pour drippings into a saucepan; skim fat.
• Combine cornstarch, brown sugar, water and lemon juice until smooth; add to the drippings.
• Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
• Serve sauce with hens and stuffing.