Irish Cornish Game Hens With Cabbage Recipes

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.

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.

IRISH CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CABBAGE

Steps:

• Core and thinly slice the cabbage. Rinse the leeks wekk, split in half lengthwise and rinse between the layers to remove hidden dirt. Thinly slice the leeks crosswise, into half circles. Cut your Cornish Hen and rub with the global gourmet herb seasoning.
• Slice the bacon into 1/3" pieces. In a large skillet, fry the b acon until crisp. Drain on paper towls, leaving 2 Tbs rendered bacon fat in the pan and reserving any poured off fat.
• Over medium high heat, brown the hen peices on all sides. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook the pieces until almost done, just slightly pink in the center. Remove the pan and set aside.
• In the same pan, fry the leeks for a minute or so until they begin to soften. Add the cabbage and 3 thyme sprigs and cook just until the cabbage starts to soften, adding more bacon fat if needed. Add the vermouth and cook 1 minute. Stir in the cream and nutmeg. Place the hen pieces on top. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes, too cook the hen through and to blend the flavors.
• Just before serving, season the cabbage with salt and pepper to taste, and stir in the vinegar, adding more as needed to perk up the flavors. Arrange the hen pieces on top of the cabbage. Sprinkle with bacon and the remaining 3 sprigs of thyme.

BRICK CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Make the brine: Bring 1 1/2 gallons water and 1/3 cup salt to a boil in a large pot, whisking until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat. Add the lemon halves, tarragon, parsley, garlic, bay leaves and peppercorns; let cool completely.
• Place the hens breast-side down on a cutting board. Use kitchen shears to cut along either side of the backbone to remove. Turn the hens breast-side up and open so the drumsticks point out; press the breastbone firmly to flatten. Submerge the hens in the brine and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Remove the hens from the brine and rinse well; pat dry. Place breast-side up in a baking dish and refrigerate, uncovered, to dry out the skin, at least 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle the hens with salt. Wrap 2 bricks with foil. Heat 1 tablespoon each olive oil and butter in each of 2 large nonstick or cast-iron skillets over medium-high heat. Add 1 hen, skin-side down, to each skillet and scatter the thyme and garlic around it. Top each hen with a foil-wrapped brick and sear until beginning to brown, about 20 minutes, rotating the pans as needed for even cooking. Remove the bricks and carefully flip the hens (do not replace the bricks); continue cooking until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 20 to 25 more minutes. Cut each hen in half and serve with the romesco and chimichurri sauces.
• Romesco Sauce
• Toss 1/2 pound plum tomatoes and 4 garlic cloves (unpeeled) with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; spread on a baking sheet. Roast at 350 degrees F until soft, 20 minutes; let cool, then squeeze out the garlic. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, 3/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers, 1/4 cup sherry vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a blender; blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl; stir in 1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds. Slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil, whisking.
• Basil Chimichurri
• Put 6 garlic cloves (unpeeled) on a sheet of foil; drizzle with olive oil and seal into a packet. Roast at 350 degrees F until soft, about 20 minutes; let cool. Squeeze out the garlic cloves and mash into a paste. Combine 1 bunch basil (cut into thin ribbons), 1 bunch finely chopped parsley, 1/4 bunch finely chopped oregano, 1/3 cup sherry vinegar, 2 finely chopped shallots, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil, whisking.

CORNISH HENS WITH CARAWAY CABBAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots, tomatoes and garlic; Sauté 8 minutes. Add wine, thyme and bay leaf. Boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add beef broth, 2 cups chicken broth and caraway seeds. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 45 minutes, stirring often. Strain sauce into heavy medium saucepan, pressing on solids. Boil until reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon broth; add to sauce. Boil until slightly thickened, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Tie caraway in cheesecloth square. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and onion. Sauté until cabbage begins to wilt, about 3 minutes. Add broth and caraway bundle. Simmer until liquid evaporates, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Discard caraway bundle. Stir in prosciutto. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Season hens with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet. Drizzle with oil. Roast 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.; continue roasting until cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Bring sauce to simmer. Rewarm cabbage over low heat, stirring often. Divide couscous among plates. Top with cabbage, then game hens. Spoon sauce over.