Cornish hens are small, flavorful chickens that make a perfect centerpiece for a special meal. This recipe pairs them with a savory bulgur stuffing made with bacon, onion, celery, and herbs. The hens are roasted until golden brown and juicy, and the stuffing is a delicious complement to the tender meat.
Along with the main recipe, the article also includes instructions for making a variety of side dishes that would pair well with Cornish hens. These include roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and a simple green salad. There's also a recipe for a flavorful gravy that can be served over the hens and stuffing.
Whether you're looking for a complete meal plan or just a few new recipes to try, this article has something for everyone. The recipes are easy to follow and the results are sure to impress your family and friends.
CORNISH HEN WITH BULGUR-BACON STUFFING
Use this recipe when you need a special occasion dinner for two.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 2h10m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In 1-quart saucepan, cook bacon and onion over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until bacon is cooked and onion is tender. Drain bacon and onion. In same saucepan, heat water and bouillon granules to boiling. Stir in bulgur; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Stir in bacon mixture, zucchini, mushrooms and thyme.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Fill body cavity of hen with stuffing. Fasten opening with skewer. Place hen, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Place meat thermometer in thigh muscle so tip does not touch bone. Brush with some of the butter.
- Bake uncovered 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, brushing occasionally with remaining butter, until juice of hens is clear when thickest pieces are cut to bone (at least 165°F).
- Remove stuffing from body cavity. Cut hen in half along backbone from tail to neck with kitchen scissors. Serve each hen half with stuffing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 405, Carbohydrate 15 g, Cholesterol 165 mg, Fat 2, Fiber 3 g, Protein 29 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 790 mg
CORNISH GAME HEN WITH BACON AND ONIONS
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Wrap a brick in aluminum foil and place into the oven to heat.
- Place the game hen breast side down on a cutting board. Using scissors or poultry shears, cut from the neck to the tailbone to remove the backbone. Once you remove the backbone you will be able to see the inside of the bird. Make a small slit in the cartilage at the base of the breastbone to reveal the keel bone. Grab the bird with both hands on the ribs and open up like a book, facing down towards the cutting board. Remove the keel bone. Cut small slits in the skin of the bird behind the legs and tuck the drumsticks into them in order to hold them in place. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Fry the bacon in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once crisp, remove the bacon from the skillet and reserve. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan. Immediately add the two birds to the pan, skin side down. Add the onions to the pan around the edges. Top the birds with the brick and allow to remain on the heat for 5 minutes. Place the pan into the oven and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until the thigh meat reaches 170 degrees F. Remove from the oven and allow the bird to rest for 5 minutes before serving with the onions and bacon.
STUFFED CORNISH HENS
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Season inside and out of cornish hens. In a bowl combine mushrooms, onions, carrots, peas, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Stuff vegetables into cavity of each bird to full capacity. Drizzle hens with remaining oil. Criss-cross 2 bacon slices across each hen, tucking ends under birds to keep in place. Place hens on a roasting rack in a roasting pan and pour chicken stock in bottom of pan. Roast hens 45 minutes to 1 hour or until an instant reading thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 170 degrees. Allow hens to rest, loosely covered with foil, for at least 10 minutes while you finish sauce. Bring sauce to a boil in roasting pan, scraping bottom of pan to incorporate any drippings; season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, drizzle hens with sauce.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Season inside and out of cornish hens. In a bowl combine mushrooms, onions, carrots, peas, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Stuff vegetables into cavity of each bird to full capacity. Drizzle hens with remaining oil. Criss-cross 2 bacon slices across each hen, tucking ends under birds to keep in place. Place hens on a roasting rack in a roasting pan and pour chicken stock in bottom of pan. Roast hens 45 minutes to 1 hour or until an instant reading thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 170 degrees. Allow hens to rest, loosely covered with foil, for at least 10 minutes while you finish sauce. Bring sauce to a boil in roasting pan, scraping bottom of pan to incorporate any drippings; season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, drizzle hens with sauce.
CORNISH HEN WITH BULGUR
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- 1. Prepare Bulgur-Bacon Stuffing. Heat oven to 350°. 2. Fill body cavity of hen with stuffing. Fasten opening with skewer. Place hen, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Place meat thermometer in thigh muscle so tip does not touch bone. Brush hen with some of the butter.3. Bake uncovered 1 to 1 1/4 hours, brushing occasionally with remaining butter, until thermometer reads 180° and juices are no longer pink when center of thigh is cut.4. Remove stuffing from body cavity. Cut hen in half along backbone from tail to neck with kitchen scissors. Serve each hen half with stuffing.Bulgar-Bacon Stuffing:Cook bacon and onion in 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until bacon is cooked and onion is tender. Drain bacon and onion. Heat water and bouillon granules to boiling in same saucepan. Stir in bulgur remove from heat. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Sir in bacon mixture, zucchini, mushrooms, cranberries and thyme.table for 2For Thanksgiving, if the two of you are planning to celebrate this favorite holiday together, Cornish hen is perfect in place of a big bird that will have you eating leftovers for weeks. Here are some delicious side dish and dessert suggestions to round out your holiday menu:Buttercup Squash with Apples (see On the Sidelines chapter)Asparagus Parmesan (see On the Sidelines chapter)Orange-Pecan Muffins (see On the Sidelines chapter)Fruit Trifle (see Sweet Endings chapter)1 Serving: Calories 590 (Calories from Fat 360) Fat 40g (Saturated 13g) Cholesterol 255mg Sodium 840mg Carbohydrate 15g (Dietary Fiber 3g) Protein 45g % Daily Value: Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 4% Calcium 4% Iron 12% Diet Exchanges: 5 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 VegetableFrom "Betty Crocker's Cooking for Two." Text Copyright 2005 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Nutrition Facts : Nutritional Facts Serves
ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH BULGUR STUFFING (FARAKH BADARI)
Provided by Craig Claiborne
Categories dinner, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Sprinkle the hens inside and out with salt and pepper. Blend the bulgur and parsley in a mixing bowl.
- Stuff each game hen with an equal portion of the bulgur mixture. Truss the hens.
- Place a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Arrange the hens breast side up on the rack. To prepare a basting sauce, blend the remaining ingredients, salt and pepper.
- Brush the hens with the basting sauce. Place in the oven and roast one hour, basting often with the sauce. Remove the trussing string and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 799, UnsaturatedFat 37 grams, Carbohydrate 27 grams, Fat 53 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 52 grams, SaturatedFat 12 grams, Sodium 1426 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH RICE STUFFING
My mother used to make this for Easter dinner. The rice stuffing is a perfect partner for the hens. Packaged wild rice mix can be used as well.
Provided by MOMMYCOFFEY
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes
Time 2h10m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the almonds, onion, and uncooked wild rice. Saute 5 to 10 minutes. Mix in the water, chicken bouillon cube, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 45 minutes until rice is tender and easily fluffed with a fork.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Season the Cornish game hens inside and out with salt, and stuff with the rice mixture. Place the hens breast side up on a rack in a baking pan. Brush with 1/4 cup melted butter.
- Cover the baking pan, and cook the hens 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Uncover, and continue cooking 1 hour, or until the hens are no longer pink and the juices run clear.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 396.9 calories, Carbohydrate 11.3 g, Cholesterol 128.9 mg, Fat 32.3 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 15.8 g, SaturatedFat 15.8 g, Sodium 1341.1 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
GOLDEN CORNISH GAME HENS FOR 2 (BACON-HERB BREAD STUFFING)
Make and share this Golden Cornish Game Hens for 2 (Bacon-Herb Bread Stuffing) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by littleturtle
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 2h
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cook bacon until crisp.
- Remove bacon from pan, crumble; set aside.
- Drain pan of all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease, and saute carrots and celery in the reserved grease until tender (about 5 minutes).
- Add bacon, savory, thyme, and pepper; mix in bread crumbs.
- Dissolve bouillon in hot water, and drizzle over the bread mixture.
- Toss lightly.
- Season cavities of hens with salt, then lightly stuff with the bread mixture.
- If birds have neck skin still attached, pull it to each bird's back and secure with a small skewer.
- Tie legs to tail, and twist wing tips under back on each.
- Place hens breast side up in a shallow roasting pan.
- Brush with cooking oil and cover loosely with foil.
- Roast at 375°F for 30 minutes.
- Combine wine, butter, and orange juice.
- Uncover birds and baste with wine mixture.
- Roast uncovered for another hour (until done), basting twice with wine mixture.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 754.7, Fat 25.4, SaturatedFat 9.1, Cholesterol 243.7, Sodium 1120.1, Carbohydrate 63.4, Fiber 4.9, Sugar 7.6, Protein 61.2
Tips:
- Choose the Best Cornish Hens: Select plump and well-proportioned hens with moist skin. Avoid any hens with bruises or signs of freezer burn.
- Properly Rinse and Pat Dry: Before cooking, rinse the hens inside and out with cold water. Pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure even cooking and crispy skin.
- Generous Seasoning: Don't be shy with your seasonings. Season the hens liberally inside and out with salt, pepper, and any other desired herbs or spices. This will enhance their flavor tremendously.
- Stuffing Love: If using a stuffing, make sure it is not too moist or dense. A slightly dry stuffing will cook better and absorb the juices from the hens, resulting in a flavorful and moist filling.
- Trussing Technique: Trussing the hens helps keep the stuffing in place and ensures even cooking. Use kitchen twine to tie the legs together and tuck the wings behind the body. This will also make the hens easier to handle and carve.
- Crispy Skin Perfection: To achieve crispy and golden-brown skin, roast the hens uncovered in a preheated oven. Baste them occasionally with melted butter or olive oil to keep them moist and prevent drying out.
- Resting Time: Once the hens are cooked, let them rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
Conclusion:
Cornish hens are a versatile and delicious main course that can elevate any special occasion or weeknight dinner. With careful preparation, proper seasoning, stuffing techniques, and precise cooking, you can create a succulent and flavorful dish that will impress your family and friends. Experiment with different stuffing variations, herbs, and spices to find your perfect combination. Whether you prefer a classic roasted hen or a more creative stuffed version, the possibilities are endless. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey that celebrates the goodness of Cornish hens.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love