The Cornish game hen is a delightful and delectable poultry known for its succulence and adaptability. This small, yet flavorful bird is often stuffed and roasted whole, making it a popular choice for special occasions or as a centerpiece for a weeknight meal. Its delicate flavor lends itself well to various cooking methods and flavor combinations, including the enticing blend of sage and garlic. In this article, we will explore a delectable recipe that pairs the savory notes of sage with the aromatic pungency of garlic, creating a tantalizing dish that will captivate your taste buds. We will guide you through the art of selecting and preparing the Cornish game hen, ensuring a perfectly cooked bird that is crispy and golden on the outside, while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. Embark on this culinary journey and discover the perfect recipe for a flavorful and unforgettable Cornish game hen with sage and garlic.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
STUFFED CORNISH GAME HEN WITH GARLIC AND SAGE
This tender garlic and sage Cornish game hen is stuffed with delicious, homemade Anjou pear and baby bella mushroom stuffing. The best recipe for an elegantly rustic dinner party with friends!
Provided by Genevieve Morrison
Categories Main Course
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Make your bread stuffing with Anjou pear, baby bella mushroom and red onion first, set aside and preheat oven to 450.
- Chop 5-7 leaves of fresh sage and 6 cloves of garlic into pieces small enough to mix evenly in a food processor. you don't have to mince.
- In a food processor, add 4 tbsp. of softened unsalted butter, 2 tbsp. olive oil, juice from half a lemon and the chopped garlic and sage. Process till creamy with small flecks of sage and garlic. Set aside.
- Pat 5 Cornish game hens with paper towel, and place them in a 4 quart baking pan or pyrex. Cut about 1½ feet of baking string and tie their legs close to their body by wrapping each leg first, then securing them together with a bow.
- Fill each cavity with stuffing, but don't over-stuff. Leave most of the stuffing to serve as a side dish.
- Lift the skin of the breast and spoon in some of the garlic-sage butter. Make sure it's nicely distributed under the skin (It helps to use a spoon to separate it first).
- Roll up your sleeves and give the hens a luxurious massage with the garlic-sage butter. Make sure to cover every part of them, including between the legs and breast.
- Sprinkle them with 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper, making sure to evenly distribute all over the hens. Bake for 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer shows 165 F (74 C) in the thickest parts, like the thigh and breast. Allow to sit for 15 minutes under tin foil before serving.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 hen and stuffing, Calories 1108 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 80 g, Fat 79 g, SaturatedFat 24 g, Cholesterol 479 mg, Sodium 858 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SAGE AND GARLIC
Sage is one of my favourite herbs. And who doesn't like garlic!! So this works well for me. Hope it works for you too. This can be prepared ahead of time up to the point of putting it into the oven.
Provided by Tebo3759
Categories Poultry
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Blend 3 Tbs of butter with the sage, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper.
- Separate breast and leg skin from hens.
- Press the mixture under the skins and spread evenly.
- Melt remaining butter and add paprika Brush this butter over the hens.
- Place hens in single layer in shallow oiled pan.
- Roast at 400 F, uncovered, 40 to 45 minutes.
- Baste twice with pan drippings.
BUTTERFLIED CORNISH HENS WITH SAGE BUTTER
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place hens on a sheet tray fitted with a cooling rack in the refrigerator to dry skin out for 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a small pan over medium heat, melt butter with sage, zest, salt and pepper. Remove hens from refrigerator. Preheat 2 large saute pans over medium heat, lightly coat with oil. Season hens with salt and pepper and sear, skin side down, in the pans. Sear until skin caramelizes and turns golden brown and crispy, about 7 to 10 minutes. Flip birds over, and baste with sage butter. Sprinkle tops with chopped bacon and place in preheated oven to finish cooking, 25 to 30 minutes, basting occasionally. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
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
ROAST CORNISH HENS WITH SAGE BUTTER
Steps:
- In a small bowl blend together well 2 tablespoons of the butter with the sage,the zest, and the salt. Loosen the skin covering the breast meat on each hen by slipping your fingers under the skin and sliding them between the skin and the meat. Divide the butter mixture between the hens, inserting it under the skin of each hen and smoothing it evenly by rubbing the outside of the skin, and season the hens with salt and pepper. Tie each hen's legs together with kitchen string.
- In a large ovenproof heavy skillet or small flameproof roasting pan heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides, in it sauté the hens, breast sides up, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the underside is golden brown, and roast them in the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven, basting them with the pan juices every 10 minutes, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the fleshy part of the thigh registers 180°F. Let the hens stand for 5 minutes and discard the string.
HERB-STUFFED ROASTED CORNISH HENS
If you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your dinner table, we suggest this moist Cornish game hen recipe. A blend of sage, lemon, onion and garlic give this entree outstanding flavor. -Taste of Home Cooking School
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Gently lift skin from hen breasts and place sage leaves under skin. Place lemon wedges and a third of the onions in the cavities. Tuck wings under hens; tie legs together. Place in a small greased roasting pan. , Combine butter, oil, lemon juice and garlic; spoon half of mixture over hens. Sprinkle with salt and pepper., Bake 30 minutes. Add potatoes and remaining onions to pan. Brush hens with remaining butter mixture. Bake until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175° and potatoes are tender, 40-45 minutes longer., Remove hens to a serving platter. Stir potatoes and onions to coat with pan drippings. Serve with hens.
Nutrition Facts : Fat 67 g fat (22 g saturated fat), Cholesterol 379 mg cholesterol, Sodium 1,398 mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29 g carbohydrate, Fiber 4 g fiber, Protein 63 g protein.
HERB-ROASTED GAME HENS
These golden Cornish hens, shown at right, are seasoned with basil, sage and thyme for plenty of flavor. They're simple to prepare yet make any occasion seem special. For a fast finish, serve corn bread stuffing and chunky cinnamon applesauce...or roasted cubed potatoes with pepper and carrots plus instant chocolate pudding for dessert.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
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°.
Nutrition Facts :
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SAGE STUFFING
Fix this for a special dinner to impress your guests or for a romantic dinner for the one you love. You may need to decrease the sage if the stuffing mix already has sage in it.
Provided by Redneck Epicurean
Categories Whole Chicken
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a roasting pan with foil.
- Melt the butter and stir in 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper, sage, onion, and celery. Cook until the veggies are soft, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook 3 minutes.
- Stir in the stuffing and 1/4 cup water. Stir until absorbed and cool for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle the hens with the remaining salt and pepper. Fill the cavities of the hens with the stuffing and truss.
- Roast until the meat thermometer in the thigh reads 180 degrees, about an hour and 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 375, Fat 16.8, SaturatedFat 7.6, Cholesterol 240.4, Sodium 827.4, Carbohydrate 4.7, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 1.9, Protein 49
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY
The fragrant roasted birds are served with a pan sauce containing whole garlic cloves. Cornish Game Hens with Garlic and Rosemary. Pour a light Chianti throughout the meal.
Categories Garlic Roast Valentine's Day Low Carb Winter Birthday Bon Appétit
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Pat hens dry with paper towels. Season cavities lightly with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 rosemary sprig in cavity of each hen. Rub hens with 1 tablespoon oil. Season outside of hens lightly with salt and pepper. Arrange in heavy large roasting pan. Scatter garlic around hens.
- Roast hens 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Pour wine, broth and remaining 2 tablespoons oil over hens. Continue roasting until hens are golden brown and juices run clear when thigh is pierced at thickest part, basting every 10 minutes with pan juices, about 25 minutes longer.
- Transfer hens to platter, pouring any juices from cavity into roasting pan. Tent hens with foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic to heavy medium saucepan. Boil until reduced to sauce consistency, about 6 minutes.
- Cut hens in half lengthwise. Arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with additional rosemary sprigs and serve.
Tips:
- Choose plump and evenly-sized Cornish game hens, ensuring they are free of any blemishes or bruises.
- Use a sharp knife to score the hens' skin, allowing the flavors to penetrate more deeply during cooking.
- Let the hens rest for at least 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking throughout.
- Roast the hens on a bed of aromatic vegetables, such as onions, carrots, and celery, to infuse them with additional flavor.
- Baste the hens frequently with butter or oil during roasting to keep them moist and prevent them from drying out.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the hens, ensuring it reaches 165°F (74°C) before removing them from the oven.
- Allow the hens to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving and serving, allowing the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Conclusion:
With its tender meat, crispy skin, and aromatic stuffing, Cornish game hens are a delightful main course for any occasion. By following these tips and choosing a delicious recipe from the ones shared in the article, you can create a flavorful and memorable dish that will impress your family and friends. Whether you prefer a classic preparation with herbs and garlic or a more adventurous option with exotic spices, there's a recipe here to suit every taste. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to indulge in the delectable experience of Cornish game hens.
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