Texas Style Game Hens Recipes

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).

ROASTED GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens.
• ROASTED GAME HENS WITH ASIAN SPICE RUB: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. In a small bowl, combine the butter, ginger and five-spice powder. Rub the five-spice mixture onto the hens. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens. Yield: 6 servings
• ROASTED GAME HENS STUFFED UNDER THE SKIN WITH HERBED RICOTTA: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the ricotta in a fine sieve and drain for 30 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the drained ricotta, Parmesan, egg yolk, herbs and lemon zest. Put the garlic clove through a garlic press and into the ricotta. Mix well, adding salt and pepper to taste. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. Loosen the skin on the breasts by sliding your fingers under the skin, being careful not to pierce it. Spoon the ricotta mixture under the skin (about 4 tablespoons of stuffing per bird.) Truss the birds. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens. Yield: 6 servings

TEXAS-STYLE GAME HENS

Steps:

• Combine the first 4 ingredients in a small saucepan; stir well. Cook over medium heat until the jelly melts, stirring constantly. Remove sauce from the heat; keep warm.
• Combine the salt, garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp chili powder, stirring well. Sprinkle over the cornish hens.
• Grill over medium coals for 45 minutes; turn occasionally.
• Baste with the sauce and grill an additional 15 minutes. Turn and baste frequently with the remaining sauce. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

CORNISH GAME HEN THREE WAYS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a shallow roasting pan with foil and set aside.
• For the blackening spice: In a bowl stir together the dark chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, paprika, salt, celery powder, dried parsley, dried thyme and cayenne pepper. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 2/3 cup.
• For the lemon pepper seasoning: In a bowl, stir together the pepper, dried lemon peel, dried minced onion, dried thyme, coriander seeds and sugar if using. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 1 1/4 cups.
• For the game hens: Sprinkle one of the game hens all over with 2 tablespoons blackening spice. Sprinkle another game hen all over with 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning. Sprinkle the third all over with the rosemary and thyme, garlic, and some salt and pepper. Place the game hens, breast-side up, in the pan; twist the wing tips under the backs. Roast, uncovered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh of each hen registers 180 degrees F, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 to 7 minutes before serving.

HERB-ROASTED GAME HENS

Steps:

• Place hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Spoon over hens. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or a thermometer reads 180°.

LEMON HERB GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place hens in a roasting pan. Cut 1-1/2 lemons into six wedges. Rub a lemon wedge over each hen; place wedges in roasting pan. Peel and cut garlic cloves in half. Rub cut side of a garlic half over each hen; place in cavity with five additional garlic halves. Rub 2 tablespoons oil over each hen; sprinkle with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper., In a small bowl, mix basil, rosemary and thyme. Sprinkle half over hens; place remaining herbs in cavities. Cut remaining lemons into 12 slices; place over hens. Roast 1-1/4-1-1/2 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°. ,

HOISIN-ROASTED GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place hens in a roasting pan. Mix together garlic, ginger, and chiles in a small bowl. Rub garlic mixture over hens and under skin; stuff cavities with cilantro sprigs. Tie legs of each hen together with kitchen twine. Cover; refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Remove hens from refrigerator, and brush with 1/2 cup hoisin. Roast 35 to 40 minutes, basting occasionally with extra hoisin. Remove from oven, and serve hot.

JALAPENO-STUFFED GAME HENS

Steps:

• Heat a grill until hot. Season the hens with salt and pepper. Place 4 jalapeno halves in the cavity of each hen. Wrap 3 slices of bacon over the breast on each hen, securing the bacon with toothpicks that have been soaked in water. Place the hens on the grill and cook until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Cover the grill and cook until hens are cooked through, about 40 minutes, turning once. Remove the toothpicks, split the hens in half lengthwise, divide among 4 plates and serve immediately.