Cornish Game Hens With Grape Sauce Recipes

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GRAPE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Rinse the hens& pat dry inside& outside with paper towel.
• Place hens on a rack in a roasting pan.
• Season hens equally with salt, pepper, garlic, tarragon, rosemary, sage, thyme& paprika.
• Roast in oven until golden brown, or until juice runs clear& not red when hens are punctured between the thigh& breast.
• While the birds are in the oven, using a double boiler, melt the butter& stir in the flour.
• Once blended, add the chicken stock or broth& allow the mixture to thicken, stirring occasionally.
• Add the grape jelly, grape juice, sugar& the dissolved cornstarch.
• Continue to cook& stir until thickened again.
• To serve, pour some of the sauce onto the 2 plates.
• Place the hens on top of the sauce& then pour the rest of the sauce over the hens.
• Garnish the plates with a few small clusters of grapes& a few sprigs of herbs if desired.

ROASTED CORNISH HENS WITH GRAPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Place the hens in a shallow baking dish without crowding. Rub hens with oil and sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Cut onion in half. Place the halves cut side down around the hens. Arrange gizzards and necks around the hens.
• Place baking dish on top of stove over medium-high heat. Turn the hens over in the dish to coat them with the oil. Brown them for a few minutes. Arrange hens on their sides, place in the oven and bake 15 minutes, basting often.
• Turn the hens on the other side and continue baking 15 minutes, basting often.
• Turn the hens breast side up. Bake about 10 minutes, basting often.
• Transfer the hens to a heated serving platter. Cover with foil to keep warm.
• Skim off the fat from the pan liquid. Place the dish on top of stove and bring the liquid to a boil. Add the sherry and vinegar and stir to dissolve any brown particles that may cling to the bottom of pan. Strain sauce into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook down by half. Add the honey, broth and tomato paste. Stir and add any liquid that may have accumulated inside or around the birds. Add the grapes and bring to a boil.
• Cook about 1 minute, stirring. Swirl in the butter, add salt and pepper, if necessary. Pour the sauce over the hens and serve.

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.

CONTEST-WINNING ORANGE-GLAZED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to at 350°. Tie legs of each hen together; turn wing tips under backs. Place on a greased rack in a roasting pan. Brush with butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour., Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 15 minutes. Spoon over hens. Bake until a thermometer reads 170°, about 15 minutes longer.