Broiled Cornish Game Hens Recipes

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• In a large, non-reactive bowl, mix onion, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, white wine, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, pepper, celery salt, and salt. Place Cornish game hens in the bowl, coating evenly with the marinade mixture. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Cook hens about 1 hour on the prepared grill, brushing occasionally with remaining marinade, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

BROILED CORNISH HENS WITH LEMON AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler, and adjust the rack to about 4 inches from the heat source. Use a sharp, sturdy knife to split the hens through their backbones; it will cut through without too much effort. Rub the skin side with olive oil. Flatten the hens in a broiling or roasting pan, skin side down, and liberally sprinkle the exposed surfaces with salt and pepper. Slice one lemon as thinly as you can (a mandoline is best for this) and lay the slices on the birds.
• Broil for about 10 minutes, or until the lemon is browned and the birds appear cooked on top; rotate the pan if necessary. Turn the birds over, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and return to the heat. Cook another 10 minutes, or until the skin is nicely browned. Meanwhile, slice the remaining lemon as thinly as possible.
• Lay the lemon slices on the skin, and broil 5 minutes. The lemons should be slightly browned and the birds cooked through; if not, cook a couple of minutes more. Drizzle with the balsamic vinegar, garnish with parsley and serve.

BROILED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• PREHEAT 450°F BROILER!
• Remove any giblets and rinse cavity and hen well and pat dry.
• Split hens in half vertically.
• Sprinkle both sides of each half hen with lemon pepper.
• Place skin side down in foil covered broiler pan.
• Place 1 T butter on each cavity half; pour 1 T lemon juice over each half.
• Broil 7 inches away from heat.
• Broil 5 minutes then baste.
• Broil 15 minutes longer.
• Turn hen over; baste and broil 15 minutes, basting 1 to 2 times.
• Place pineapple around hens and sprinkle with sugar. (Be sure to put in the juice). Broil 5 minutes.
• Mix parsley with rice.
• Serve hens over the rice with pineapple slices and drippings for gravy.
• Serve with lemon wedges or slices for garnish as well as for more lemon flavor on hens.

WALNUT PESTO BROILED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• 1. Set the oven rack on the lowest level and preheat the broiler to high. Line the bottom of a broiler pan with foil and brush with oil.
• 2. Combine the parsley, walnuts, pecorino, 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a food processor. Add 1 tablespoon water and process until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds. (Makes about 1 cup.)
• 3. Pat the chicken dry and carefully loosen the skin to form a pocket under the skin. Lift the skin, and use a spoon or fingers to stuff about 1/4 cup pesto deep into the pockets of each of the halves, cover as much of the meat as possible without breaking the skin. Season each side of the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the chicken skin-side down on the pan and broil until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Carefully turn to keep the skin intact and cook the other side until crispy and dark brown, about 10 minutes. Garnish with lemon and serve with potatoes.
• Total Fat: 51 grams
• Saturated Fat: 12 grams
• Total Carbohydrates: 3 grams
• Protein: 37 grams
• Sodium: 724 milligrams
• Cholesterol: 185 milligrams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchens for entwine.
• Copyright 2010 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

TUSCAN GRILLED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Sprinkle the Cornish hens with 1 teaspoon salt on each side.
• Combine the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a ceramic or glass dish just large enough to hold the flattened hens. Add the hens, and turn to coat. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, turning once or twice.
• When ready to grill, prepare a hot charcoal fire on one side of a grill (or turn a gas grill on low heat). Spread 1/4 of the coals across the other side of the grill. Place the hens on the cooler side skin-side up and weigh them down with a gratin dish with a foil-wrapped brick inside.
• Cook for 12 minutes, until the underside is golden brown. Turn the hens skin-side down, weigh them down again, and cook for another 12 minutes until the skin is golden brown and the hens are cooked through.
• Place the lemon halves on the cool side of the grill, cut-side down, for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove the Cornish hens and lemons to a plate or cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut the hens in half, sprinkle with fleur de sel, and serve with the grilled lemon halves.

HERB-BRINED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, sage, garlic, thyme, rosemary and 1 quart water. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add the cold water to cool the brine to room temperature., Place a turkey-sized oven roasting bag inside a second roasting bag; add hens. Carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bags and turn to coat. Place in a roasting pan. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours, turning occasionally. Drain and discard brine; pat hens dry., Meanwhile, place the peppercorns and garlic in a food processor; cover and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the butter, 3 tablespoons olive oil and herbs; cover and process until smooth. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from hens; rub half the butter mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks; tie drumsticks together. Rub remaining butter mixture over skin., In a 15x10x1-in. baking pan, toss the Brussels sprouts and onions with remaining olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer. Place hens, breast side up, on top of the vegetables. Bake at 450° until thermometer inserted in breast reads 165°, 35-40 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if hens brown too quickly., Remove hens and vegetables to a serving platter; cover and let stand for 10 minutes before carving. If desired, garnish with additional herbs.

GRILLED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the butter, onions, parsley, ginger, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. , Rub mixture under the skin and over the top of each game hen. Sprinkle remaining salt and pepper inside the hen cavities. , Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. Prepare grill for indirect heat, using a drip pan. , Place hens breast side up over drip pan; grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 45-60 minutes or until a thermometer reads 180° and the meat juices run clear.