With their tender meat and delicate flavor, cornish game hens are a perfect choice for a special occasion meal. This article will guide you through the process of creating a delicious and impressive dish featuring cornish game hens, dried fruit, and honey. We'll explore the best types of dried fruit to use, how to prepare the hens, and the perfect combination of spices and herbs to enhance the natural flavors. You'll also learn how to create a flavorful glaze using honey, butter, and aromatic ingredients. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will leave your taste buds delighted.
Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!
ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS
Go for a different kind of bird by stuffing and cooking the Neelys' Roasted Cornish Game Hens recipe from Down Home with the Neelys on Food Network.
Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
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.
HONEY-HERB CORNISH GAME HENS
I saw this in a magazine and thought it looked absolutely delicious. It would make a very fancy romantic meal or even be great for a dinner party with friends. I love the idea of using Cornish hens because of the combo of dark and white meat. The hens are baked, but I want to try them on the grill when it gets warm.
Provided by Redneck Epicurean
Categories Whole Chicken
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Rinse and pat dry hens. Cut out the backbone and split through the breastbone. Trim any excess skin or fat.
- Place oil in a shallow pan and heat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, honey, thyme, and oregano. Season hens with salt and pepper.
- Once pan is heated, place hens skin side down and brush with half of the honey mixture.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Flip hens and brush with remaining honey mixture. Bake 20-30 minutes longer, or until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees. Place on a platter.
- Drain drippings into a fat separator or skim as much fat as possible. Serve with hens.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 930.2, Fat 65.4, SaturatedFat 17.6, Cholesterol 446.1, Sodium 363.6, Carbohydrate 5, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 4.4, Protein 75.9
HONEY ORANGE CORNISH HENS
An easy dish that looks like you've spent all day cooking and has a fabulous taste. Your family or friends will rave about it, and we don't need to tell them how easy it was to make. It has only 5 ingredients.
Provided by Carol Semenuk
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Cornish Hen Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Place game hen halves with skin sides up into a 9x13-inch roasting pan.
- Roast hens in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
- Stir orange juice, honey, soy sauce, and vinegar together in a small bowl; brush mixture over hens.
- Roast hens for 5 more minutes and baste again with orange juice mixture. Roast until skin is browned and meat is no longer pink inside, about 10 more minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 192.7 calories, Carbohydrate 10.9 g, Cholesterol 75.3 mg, Fat 10.5 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 13.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 488.3 mg, Sugar 10.1 g
ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS MARINATED IN HONEY AND MUSTARD
Provided by Food Network
Yield 2 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix the honey, mustard, garlic, 3 tablespoons oil, thyme and cinnamon together in a bowl and set aside. Remove the wing tips from the hens. Roll the hens in the marinade and marinate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Season the birds inside and out with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze over each bird. Put a used lemon half in the cavity of each bird. Truss the birds.
- Set a rack in a roasting pan and brush the rack with several tablespoons vegetable oil. Place the birds, breast side down on the oiled rack. Roast for 30 minutes. Turn the birds breast side up, reduce the heat to 350 degrees and roast an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the hens are cooked through and the skin is brown. Allow the hens to rest 10 minutes before serving.
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH DRIED FRUIT AND HONEY
Categories Onion Braise Sauté Dried Fruit Almond Fall Honey Parsley Bon Appétit
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add almonds; sauté until golden, about 8 minutes. Turn almonds out onto paper towels and drain. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add game hens, 2 cups water, chopped parsley, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until game hens are cooked through, turning once, about 35 minutes. Using tongs, transfer game hen pieces to bowl.
- Degrease pan juices. Add honey, dried fruit, and raisins and simmer until fruit is tender, about 15 minutes. Return hen pieces to sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated.) Rewarm game hens in sauce over medium-low heat. Transfer to large platter. Sprinkle with almonds.
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY
Crusty garlic bread and a nice light Chianti wine complement this meal very well.
Provided by MOONANDBACK
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Cornish Hen Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 814.3 calories, Carbohydrate 9.7 g, Cholesterol 339.7 mg, Fat 57.5 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 59.4 g, SaturatedFat 14.6 g, Sodium 1382.6 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
HONEY-GLAZED HENS WITH FRUIT STUFFING
"My husband really likes Cornish hens, so I searched for a recipe I could use during the holidays that dressed them up. My family loves the fruit stuffing. -Denise Albers, Freeburg, Illinois
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until tender. Stir in the bread, fruit bits, water and allspice; cover and cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through., Loosely stuff hens with stuffing. Tuck wings under hens; tie drumsticks together. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Combine butter and honey; drizzle over hens., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 180° for hens and 165° for stuffing, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if hens brown too quickly. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts :
HONEY-GLAZED HENS WITH FRUIT STUFFING FOR TWO
"My husband really likes Cornish hens, so I searched for a recipe I could use during the holidays that dressed them up. We love the fruit stuffing." - Denise Albers, Freeburg, Illinois
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until tender. Add the bread, fruit bits, water and allspice; cover and cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through., Loosely stuff hens with stuffing. Tuck wings under hens; tie drumsticks together. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Combine butter and honey; brush over hens., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 180° for hens and 165° for stuffing, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if hens brown too quickly. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts :
HONEY ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS
This is a recipe from an old home economics cook book, but it's one I love to make. It is great served with wild rice. Make sure hen is tender before adding honey mixture or the meat will burn. The recipe is for one Cornish Hen, but I couldn't get the software to accept it the way I tried to enter it.
Provided by Good Cook Wanda
Categories Poultry
Time 1h30m
Yield 2 hen halves, 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Split hen in half. Wash and pat dry. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Brush both sides with 3 Tbs butter.
- Place breast side down on a rack in a shallow pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Turn. Brush with butter and bake for 25 minutes.
- Mix honey with 1 1/2 Tbs melted butter. Brush half the mixture on the hen. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn and brush with remaining honey mixture. Bake for 15 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1224.6, Fat 103.4, SaturatedFat 61.2, Cholesterol 553.9, Sodium 885.5, Carbohydrate 4.3, Sugar 4.3, Protein 69.2
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH ORANGE AND HONEY
Categories Garlic Onion Roast Orange Red Wine Spring Honey Watercress Bon Appétit
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Pour 2 cups sauce into medium saucepan. Reserve remaining 1 cup sauce.
- Rinse hens inside and out. Pat hens dry with paper towels. Cut and scrape off any visible fat from hens. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Place 3 onion quarters and 3 garlic cloves in cavity of each hen. Arrange hens on rack on large rimmed baking sheet.
- Roast hens 10 minutes. Baste with reserved 1 cup sauce. Continue roasting until hens are golden and juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced, basting often with pan juices and reserved 1 cup sauce, about 45 minutes longer.
- Transfer hens to cutting board; tent with foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices to 4-cup glass measuring cup. Spoon fat off top of pan juices. Pour pan juices into 2 cups sauce in saucepan. Boil until sauce is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 12 minutes.
- Discard onions and garlic from hen cavities. Using poultry shears, cut hens in half lengthwise. Remove backbones. Spoon some sauce onto plates. Place hens atop sauce. Garnish with watercress. Serve with remaining sauce.
Tips:
- Choose the right Cornish game hens: Look for hens that are plump and have a good amount of meat on them. Avoid hens that are too small or too large, as they will not cook evenly.
- Prepare the hens properly: Rinse the hens inside and out and pat them dry. Remove any excess fat or giblets. Season the hens with salt, pepper, and other desired seasonings.
- Use a variety of dried fruits: This recipe calls for a combination of dried apricots, cranberries, and raisins, but you can use any type of dried fruit that you like. Some other good options include cherries, blueberries, and figs.
- Don't overcook the hens: Cornish game hens cook quickly, so it is important to not overcook them. Cook them until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion:
Cornish game hens are a delicious and easy-to-cook dish that is perfect for a special occasion. This recipe for Cornish game hens with dried fruit and honey is sure to impress your guests. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is irresistible, and the hens are cooked to perfection. Serve them with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes, and enjoy!
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