Herb Garlic Rotisserie Cornish Game Hens Recipes

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Pat the hens dry with a paper towel. Use your index finger to loosen the skin on the top of the hen and slip a thin slice of butter under the skin on top of each breast. Add a few rosemary and thyme leaves (or herb of choice). Repeat for each hen. Put a quarter of a lemon in the cavity of each hen along with a clove of garlic and a sprig of fresh rosemary and thyme (or herb of choice). Truss the hens by tying the wings and legs.
• Rub each hen all over with some extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place then hens on the rack of a roasting pan lined with aluminum foil, spacing them out so they are as far apart from each other as possible. This will enable their skins to get browned and crispy.
• Place the hens in the preheated oven and roast for 25 minutes.
• While the hens are roasting, combine the chicken broth and wine in a bowl.
• After the hens have been roasting for 25 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Pour the broth/wine mixture over the hens and continue to roast for 30 minutes, basting the hens with the juices at the bottom of the pan every 10 minutes or less. The hens are done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear. If you prefer darker skins, turn up the temperature to broil for a couple more minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
• Carefully remove the hens and pour the juices from their cavities into the roasting pan. Transfer the hens to a warmed platter, remove the trussing string, and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm. Pour the juices from the roasting pan into a saucepan and boil for about 5 minutes until the liquid is a thin sauce-like consistency. Serve the hens whole per guest or cut in half lengthwise and place cavity-down on each serving plate. Drizzle the sauce over the hens and garnish with fresh herb sprigs and a slice of lemon. Serve immediately.

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.

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.

HERB-STUFFED ROASTED CORNISH HENS

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.

HERB-ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Place parsley, rosemary, thyme, garlic, lemon, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Blend until finely chopped. With machine running, add olive oil.
• Loosen skin from the hens. Put 1 tablespoon of herb mixture under skin of each hen, smoothing to cover breasts. Place the birds on a large rimmed baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove hens from refrigerator and bring to room temperature (about 1 hour). Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place hens on a clean rimmed baking sheet (it's okay if they touch). Brush butter over surface of hens and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast in oven, rotating pan once until golden brown and cooked through (meat thermometer should read 165 degrees when placed in the thigh), about 50 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let stand at least 15 minutes before placing on individual plates. No carving necessary!

CORNISH HENS ON A ROTISSERIE

Steps:

• Wash the hens under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Mix all the spices together and rub the outside of the hen making sure it is coated with the spice very well. Slide the hens on to the the rod and secure with cotton string around the end of the legs and wings.
• If you have a rotisserie, set temp to 350 or on the medium setting. Cook hens 30-40 or until temp reaches 170 in the thigh area . Let set for 5-7 minutes before serving.
• You can also use your oven set at 350,I have found it works the best if you can set the hens on a small rack inside a roasting pan ans baste the last 15 minutes.

ROASTED GAME HENS WITH POTATOES AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 375 F.
• Melt butter with olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over low heat. Add the minced garlic and herbs. Remove about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of the mixture and set aside.
• Add the onion slices , potatoes, and carrots to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat the vegetables with the butter, oil, and herbs; cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cavities of the game hens with salt and pepper.
• Rub the reserved herb mixture all over the hens. If desired, put pieces of lemon and onion and some herb sprigs in the cavities.
• If the skillet is not oven safe, move the vegetable mixture to a baking dish or pan.
• Arrange the hens on the vegetables, and place in the oven. Roast for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the hens register at least 165 F in the meatiest part of the thigh, not touching bone.
• If the hens are browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil near the end of the cooking time. If they don't brown enough, turn the broiler on for 2 to 3 minutes before you take them out of the oven.
• Serve and enjoy!

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS

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.

HERB GARLIC ROTISSERIE CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Rinse game hens and pat dry. In mixing bowl, blend all ingredients (except hens) into a paste. Rub herb paste thoroughly over the game hens and into the cavities, as well.
• Secure onto the rotisserie and roast for fifty five minutes to one hour, or until golden brown. If you don't have a rotisserie, you can bake the game hens in a three hundred and fifty degree oven for the same amount of time, until brown.

ROTISSERIE ASIAN-STYLE CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• In a shallow dish mix together the first 7 ingredients, then transfer to a large heavy ziploc plastic freezer bag, add in the hens; seal the bag and toss to coat.
• Refrigerate for about 5 hours.
• Remove the hens and thread on the rotisserie (reserve the marinade and discard the green onion halves).
• Pour the reserved marinade in a small saucepan.
• Reserve 1/4-cup of the chicken broth and pour the rest in with the marinade; bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• In a small cup whisk together the reserved 1/4 cup chicken broth with 2 teaspoons cornstarch; add to the simmering sauce, and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Prepare the gill to medium heat, or whatever heat desired to rotisserie.
• Secure the hens with strong string, then thread the hens onto the rotisserie rack, sprinkle with black pepper if desired.
• Grill until the hens are done about 1 hour.
• Place the hens on a platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
• Serve hens with sauce on the side.

ROTISSERIE BBQ CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• For a G.E. Countertop Oven with Rotisserie:.
• Combine all the ingredients of the rub. Use on poultry: lightly brush bird with olive oil, then rub spice mixture over and under the skin. Let marinade for up to 12 hours.
• Warning: Do Not reuse leftover rub or marinade after it has been applied to meat or poultry; it may contain harmful bacteria.
• Use a baking twine to secure the bird(s) legs and wings to keep from flopping around as the rotisserie is turning.
• Position a rotisserie fork at the opposite end of the spit from where the point is located and secure into position using the thumbscrews.
• Thread the spit through the bird(s) cavity and secure the fork into the meat of the bird.
• Place the second fork onto the spit and secure into the meat.
• Insert the pointed end of the spit into the rotisserie motor and the other end into the support.
• Place the drip pan in the oven in the lowest position to catch the drippings.
• Turn the timer to the Stay on position (I set mine to 60 minutes then to 30 minutes so I have to check on the birds). Allow to cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• For the mop:.
• Mix all ingredients in a pot, and heat over med/low for 20 minutes.
• Let the mop cool before placing in a sprayer.
• Moisten the birds by spraying the mop onto them about every 20 to 30 minutes during cooking.
• Birds are done when juices run clear and the legs separate from the birds easily.