Embark on a culinary journey to the vibrant island of Barbados and discover the tantalizing flavors of Bajan Roast Game Hens. This traditional dish showcases succulent game hens, carefully seasoned and roasted to perfection, capturing the essence of Caribbean cuisine. Prepared with a delightful blend of herbs, spices, and aromatic ingredients, these game hens offer a unique taste experience that will leave you craving more.
The article presents two enticing variations of Bajan Roast Game Hens: the classic recipe and a tangy citrus-marinated version. Both recipes provide step-by-step instructions, ensuring that home cooks of all levels can recreate this delectable dish. Whether you prefer the traditional flavors or a zesty twist, these recipes offer a delightful culinary adventure that will transport you to the heart of Barbados.
ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS
Go for a different kind of bird by stuffing and cooking the Neelys' Roasted Cornish Game Hens recipe from Down Home with the Neelys on Food Network.
Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
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.
BAJAN ROAST GAME HENS
Steps:
- Prepare the "seasoning": mash the garlic, ginger, shallots, jalapeno, scallions, parsley, cilantro and thyme to a paste in a mortar or puree in a food processor. Work in the allspice, most of the lime juice, butter, salt and pepper. Correct the seasonings, add salt, pepper and lime juice to taste.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Wash the game hens and blot them dry with paper towels. Loosen the skin on the hens. To do so, start at the neck of each bird and tunnel your fingers under the skin to separate the skin from the breast meat. Work carefully so as not to tear the skin.
- Spread half of the seasoning mixture under the skins of the game hens. Rub the skin to force the mixture over the thigh and drumstick meat. Spread the remaining seasoning over the breast skin of the birds.
- Roast the birds until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 780, UnsaturatedFat 33 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 55 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 59 grams, SaturatedFat 18 grams, Sodium 934 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
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
BAJAN CHICKEN
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 5h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Rinse and dry the chicken pieces and put them into a shallow glass dish.
- Put the allspice, peppercorns, and cinnamon stick into a spice grinder and grind to a powder. To a full sized blender add the onion, peppers, scallions, garlic, scotch bonnet, thyme, lime juice, olive oil, butter, and ground spices. Blend to a puree; add some water if it is too thick. Pour this over the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 1/2 hour before you cook it.
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Put the remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large, oven-proof saute pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and season it with salt. Brown the chicken on both sides, then place the pan in the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Serve garnished with cilantro leaves.
ROASTED GAME HENS
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens.
- ROASTED GAME HENS WITH ASIAN SPICE RUB: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. In a small bowl, combine the butter, ginger and five-spice powder. Rub the five-spice mixture onto the hens. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens. Yield: 6 servings
- ROASTED GAME HENS STUFFED UNDER THE SKIN WITH HERBED RICOTTA: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the ricotta in a fine sieve and drain for 30 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the drained ricotta, Parmesan, egg yolk, herbs and lemon zest. Put the garlic clove through a garlic press and into the ricotta. Mix well, adding salt and pepper to taste. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. Loosen the skin on the breasts by sliding your fingers under the skin, being careful not to pierce it. Spoon the ricotta mixture under the skin (about 4 tablespoons of stuffing per bird.) Truss the birds. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens. Yield: 6 servings
MOROCCAN-STYLE CORNISH GAME HENS
Categories Chicken Game Poultry Vegetable Roast Dinner Spice Carrot Fall Winter Bon Appétit Paleo Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Finely grind first 7 ingredients in spice grinder or coffee grinder. Transfer to small bowl. Whisk in orange juice, oil and garlic. (Spice mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
- Rub spice mixture all over hens; place hens in large roasting pan. Sprinkle hens inside and out with salt and pepper. Tie legs together to hold shape. Arrange carrots in pan around hens. Sprinkle carrots with salt and pepper. Roast 30 minutes. Add stock to roasting pan. Roast hens until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced and carrots are tender, basting hens occasionally with pan juices, about 35 minutes longer. Place 1 hen on each of 4 plates. Arrange carrots alongside. Spoon warm Orange-Honey Sauce over and serve.
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 :
BAJAN FRIED CHICKEN
Natives of Barbados (who call themselves Bajans) love this fried chicken with fiery spices. It is a version of "seasoning up" as it's called on many islands. You might even prefer to refrigerate the chicken with the spices for an hour or two, to let the flavors really take hold. From "Caribbean Cooking" by John DeMers.
Provided by lazyme
Categories Whole Chicken
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add chicken, then reduce heat, cover and simmer until chicken is tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Prepare Seasoning Mix.
- Drain chicken and pat it dry.
- Cool completely, then cut into 8 serving pieces.
- Cut a long, deep pocket in meaty part of each piece, filling each pocket with about 2 tablespoons of Seasoning Mix.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large skillet to 375F (190C) or until a 1-inch bread cube turns golden brown in 50 seconds.
- On a large plate, combine flour, salt and pepper; coat chicken pieces, shaking off any excess flour.
- Dip pieces into beaten eggs, then roll them in bread crumbs to coat thoroughly.
- Fry in batches (without crowding) until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Seasoning Mix:.
- Peel and coarsely chop onions.
- Place them with remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor fitted with the steel blade.
- Process 1 to 2 minutes, until fairly smooth. (This mixture can be spooned into a jar and refrigerated several weeks for use as needed.).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1195.2, Fat 54.5, SaturatedFat 15.3, Cholesterol 306.9, Sodium 933.2, Carbohydrate 101.3, Fiber 6.9, Sugar 9.8, Protein 70.5
Tips:
- Choose the Right Game Hens: Select young, plump game hens with smooth, unblemished skin. Look for a weight between 1 and 2 pounds each.
- Prepare the Game Hens: Rinse the game hens inside and out with cold water and pat dry. Remove any excess fat or giblets. Truss the legs together with kitchen twine to help them cook evenly.
- Season the Game Hens: Liberally season the game hens inside and out with a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried thyme. You can also add a teaspoon of smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
- Sear the Game Hens: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully place the game hens in the skillet and sear until golden brown on all sides. This will help seal in the juices and flavor.
- Roast the Game Hens: Transfer the seared game hens to a roasting pan. Add a cup of chicken broth or water to the pan to prevent the hens from drying out. Roast the game hens in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Make the Bajan Sauce: While the game hens are roasting, prepare the Bajan sauce. Combine chopped onions, garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper, and Scotch bonnet pepper in a saucepan. Add a cup of chicken broth, a tablespoon of brown sugar, a teaspoon of ground cumin, and a teaspoon of dried oregano. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- Glaze the Game Hens: Once the game hens are cooked through, remove them from the oven and brush with the Bajan sauce. Return the hens to the oven and roast for an additional 10 minutes, or until the sauce is caramelized and bubbly.
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the game hens rest for a few minutes before carving. Serve with roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables, and a side of the remaining Bajan sauce.
Conclusion:
Bajan roast game hens are a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for a special occasion meal. The combination of roasted game hens and the tangy, sweet, and spicy Bajan sauce creates a unique and memorable dish. With careful attention to detail and a little bit of patience, you can easily make this dish at home and impress your family and friends. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to enjoy this delectable Caribbean delicacy!
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