Spice Rubbed Rock Cornish Hens Recipes

SPICY MAPLE CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Pat the game hens dry and place on the prepared rack. Mix the butter, 1/3 cup maple syrup and 2 tablespoons brown sugar with the salt and all the spices in a bowl. Rub the birds with the butter mixture, making sure it gets in all the cavities and under the skin. Reserve any unused butter for later. Sprinkle the hens with a little extra salt and paprika.
• Roast for 30 minutes, then baste with the juices at the bottom of the baking sheet, or a little of the remaining butter. Return to the oven and roast until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh (do not touch bone) registers 165 degrees F, another 15 to 30 minutes more. Remove the hens to a cutting board or serving tray to rest and remove the rack. Pour the dry sherry into the hot baking sheet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits; add a little of the stock if necessary. Transfer the sherry mixture to a small saucepan and add any remaining butter. Melt over medium heat. Meanwhile, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons chicken stock in a small bowl to make a slurry. Add the slurry and the remaining stock to the saucepan along with the remaining 1/3 cup syrup and remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Serve the game hens with the sweet and spicy gravy.

SEASONED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and pepper. Place Cornish game hens in the mixture, and marinate 10 minutes.
• Transfer hens to a medium baking dish, and cover with the marinade mixture. Cover dish, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
• Remove cover from dish, and place 1/2 the butter on each hen. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Basting frequently with the marinade mixture, continue baking 30 minutes, or until exterior of the hens is lightly browned and crisp, the interior is no longer pink, and juices run clear.

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.

SPICE-RUBBED ROCK CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°. Rub hens with oil. Mix all remaining ingredients except hens. Rub turmeric mixture on skins of hens. Place hens, breast sides up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle and does not touch bone.Roast uncovered 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until thermometer reads 180° and juice is no longer pink when center of thigh is cut.1 Serving: Calories 325 (Calories from Fat 215) Fat 24g (Saturated 6g) Cholesterol 150mg Sodium 240mg Carbohydrate 1g (Dietary Fiber 0g) Protein 26g% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% Iron 8%Diet Exchanges: 4 Medium-Fat Meat, Fat 1Betty's TipTurmeric is an ancient spice, dating back to 600 B.C. when it was used to make perfume. This ground powder has a bitter, pungent flavor and an intense yellow-orange color. We use it today to add flavor and color. Turmeric gives us the color in yellow mustard, and it is a key ingredient in most curry powders.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Place 2 whole garlic cloves and 2 lemon wedges in each hen.
• In a small bowl, combine oil,smashed garlic, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, salt and pepper.
• Gently separate skin from breast and thigh of each hen and rub meat with herb mixture.
• Rub any extra over skin.
• Arrange birds on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
• Roast birds in a preheated 400°F oven for 45 minutes or until well browned and cooked through.
• Baste occasionally.
• Place birds on a platter and transfer pan juices to measuring cup.
• To make sauce, remove fat from pan juices.
• Place juices in a saucepan with stock, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil.
• Cook a few minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine flour and margarine.
• Stir into sauce and cook until just slightly thickened.
• Adjust seasonings.
• Serve hens with sauce on the side.