Succulent and flavorful, the herb-roasted Cornish hens with cranberry-orange sauce is an easy-to-make yet elegant dish that will impress your guests. Marinated in a blend of aromatic herbs, garlic, and citrus, the tender Cornish hens are roasted to perfection, resulting in a crispy, golden-brown skin and moist, juicy meat. The accompanying cranberry-orange sauce adds a delightful tangy-sweetness that perfectly complements the savory hens. This recipe also includes a simple yet delicious roasted carrots and parsnips recipe that adds a colorful and nutritious side dish to your meal. With its vibrant flavors and elegant presentation, this herb-roasted Cornish hens with cranberry-orange sauce is a must-try for any occasion.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
ORANGE-CRANBERRY GLAZED CORNISH HENS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 1h25m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 475 degrees F. Cut the hens in half with kitchen shears, removing the backbone and cutting through the middle of the breastbone. Divide the onion, oranges and rosemary sprigs between 2 rimmed baking sheets. Arrange the hens skin-side up on the baking sheets and season all over with salt and pepper. Set aside at room temperature, 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the orange juice, cranberries, maple syrup, 1 teaspoon coriander, the chile powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, mashing the cranberries as they start to burst, until the mixture is thickened and reduced to about 3/4 cup, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and season with salt. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and add the chopped rosemary, garlic and the remaining 2 teaspoons coriander. Cook 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.
- Pat the hens dry with paper towels, then brush with the flavored butter. Roast the hens until the skin is browned and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and switch to the broiler setting. Brush the hens with the orange-cranberry sauce, then broil, one baking sheet at a time, until glazed and dark brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes.
CLEMENTINE AND CRANBERRY GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS
Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King
Categories main-dish
Time 2h20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a small saucepan, saute the shallots in the butter over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add in the clementine zest and juice, cranberry, brown sugar and rosemary. Simmer until thick, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Season the game hens liberally with salt and pepper. Using a basting brush, paint each bird entirely with the glaze. Cover the wing tips with foil to keep them from blackening too much.
- Place the glazed birds in an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven. Roast for 20 minutes, and then reglaze the birds. Check after 15 more minutes; if the sugars in the glaze are turning too brown, lightly tent the Dutch oven with foil to protect the skins. Baste again after 45 more minutes, then check with an instant-read thermometer after another 5 minutes; the thighs must register at 165 degrees F, the breasts at 170. Let rest for 10 minutes and serve.
HERB CORNISH HENS WITH CRANBERRY-ORANGE SAUCE
Baked Cornish hens are smothered in a delicious cranberry-orange sauce with a touch of ginger.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 1h35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. On rack in shallow roasting pan, place hens, breast sides up. Brush with oil. Sprinkle inside and out with salt, dried thyme and pepper. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone.
- Bake uncovered 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes until juice of hens is clear when thickest pieces are cut to bone (at least 165°F).
- Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat cranberry sauce over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted. Stir in marmalade, gingerroot and clementine sections. Cook 1 minute.
- To serve, cut each hen in half along backbone and breastbone from tail to neck, using kitchen scissors. Serve hens with warm sauce. Garnish with thyme sprigs.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 770, Carbohydrate 29 g, Cholesterol 320 mg, Fat 5, Fiber 0 g, Protein 55 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 470 mg, Sugar 25 g, TransFat 1 g
CORNISH GAME HEN WITH DOUBLE-CRANBERRY AND THYME SAUCE
This is the perfect entrée for a holiday dinner for two. Complete the meal with sautéed green beans and wild mushrooms and a wild-rice pilaf with chopped fresh parsley and hazelnuts. For dessert? Chocolate mousse topped with rum-spiked whipped cream and chopped crystallized ginger.
Provided by Bon Appétit Test Kitchen
Categories Roast Quick & Easy Cranberry Fall Winter Thyme Bon Appétit
Yield Makes 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Blend 2 tablespoons butter, sugar, and 2 teaspoons thyme in small bowl. Sprinkle hen halves with salt and pepper. Spread skin of each with half of butter mixture. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add hen halves, skin side down. Sear until deep brown, about 4 minutes. Turn, skin side up, and sear 1 minute. Remove from heat. Transfer hen halves, skin side up, to small rimmed baking sheet. Reserve skillet (mixture will be dark). Roast hen halves until cooked through and juices run clear when pierced with fork, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, blend remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon flour in small bowl. Add broth, grape juice, cranberry concentrate, and remaining 1 teaspoon thyme to reserved skillet. Boil until sauce is reduced to 3/4 cup, whisking often, about 7 minutes. Whisk in flour mixture and cranberries. Simmer until sauce coats spoon, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer hen halves to plates. Spoon sauce over and serve.
ORANGE GLAZED CORNISH HEN
Marinate the hens for at least an hour. While they're marinating in the refrigerator, start making the sauce.
Provided by JDP4445
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Cornish Hen Recipes
Time 2h15m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Mix olive oil, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, lemon zest and juice, orange zest and juice, garlic, salt, and black pepper together in a large resealable bag. Add hens, seal bag, and coat hens with marinade. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, flipping the bag 1 or 2 times to redistribute marinade.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Mix orange juice, soy sauce, honey, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, onion, ginger, and black pepper together in a bowl.
- Remove hens from marinade and transfer to a roasting pan, discarding leftover marinade.
- Roast hens in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Brush hens with orange glaze and roast for 5 more minutes. Flip hens, brush with more glaze, and roast until meat is no longer pink in the center, about 5 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1234.6 calories, Carbohydrate 129.2 g, Cholesterol 302 mg, Fat 56.4 g, Fiber 6.7 g, Protein 59.6 g, SaturatedFat 13.7 g, Sodium 5663 mg, Sugar 100.3 g
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH HERBS
Make and share this Cornish Game Hens With Herbs recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Derf2440
Categories Chicken
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Place 2 whole garlic cloves and 2 lemon wedges in each hen.
- In a small bowl, combine oil,smashed garlic, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, salt and pepper.
- Gently separate skin from breast and thigh of each hen and rub meat with herb mixture.
- Rub any extra over skin.
- Arrange birds on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Roast birds in a preheated 400°F oven for 45 minutes or until well browned and cooked through.
- Baste occasionally.
- Place birds on a platter and transfer pan juices to measuring cup.
- To make sauce, remove fat from pan juices.
- Place juices in a saucepan with stock, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil.
- Cook a few minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine flour and margarine.
- Stir into sauce and cook until just slightly thickened.
- Adjust seasonings.
- Serve hens with sauce on the side.
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE
Provided by Pierre Franey
Categories dinner, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Put the game hens in a shallow, flameproof baking dish without crowding. Rub the hens all over with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut the onion in half and place the halves, cut side down, around the hens. Arrange the gizzards and livers around the hens.
- Place the baking dish with hens on top of the stove over low heat. Turn the hens around in the dish to coat with the oil. Arrange the hens on their sides. Place in the oven and bake 15 minutes, basting often.
- Turn the hens to other side and continue baking 15 minutes, basting often.
- Turn the hens breast side up and continue baking about 10 minutes, basting often.
- Transfer the hens to a heated serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Skim off most of the fat from the pan liquid in the baking dish. Put the baking dish on top of the stove and bring the pan liquid to a boil. Add the wine and stir to dissolve any brown particles that may cling to the bottom of the pan. Strain the sauce into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook down to about half and add the honey, chicken broth and tomato paste. Stir. Add any liquid that has accumulated inside or around the hens. Add the cranberries and bring to a boil.
- Cook until the cranberries pop, about 3 minutes, stirring often. Swirl in the butter. Add salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the hens and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 834, UnsaturatedFat 37 grams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fat 57 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 59 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 1161 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CRANBERRY-GLAZED CORNISH HENS
Oregon is noted for its cranberry production and has many bogs throughout the state. In the Northwest, we use cranberries in a great variety of ways-in sauce, as a complement to meats, and in baked goods like cakes and muffins.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In 1-qt. saucepan, combine the gravy, cranberry sauce, mustard and orange zest. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until glaze is smooth., Cut hens in half lengthwise; rinse and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on rack with drip pan, skin side down; spoon half of the glaze over hens. , Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Turn hens; bake 25 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with remaining glaze., Serve on bed of wild rice and garnish with twists of thinly sliced orange.
Nutrition Facts : Fat 63 g fat (17 g saturated fat), Cholesterol 450 mg cholesterol, Sodium 504 mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12 g carbohydrate, Fiber trace fiber, Protein 77 g protein.
CONTEST-WINNING ORANGE-GLAZED CORNISH HENS
This is a wonderfully elegant entree to serve at a cozy dinner party for four. Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen preparing the tender golden brown hens and perfecting the full-flavored basting sauce. -Laurie Bartley, Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h25m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 682 calories, Fat 40g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 235mg cholesterol, Sodium 819mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (35g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 35g protein.
Tips:
- Select the Right Cornish Hens: Choose smaller hens with plump breasts and firm skin. Ensure they are properly thawed if frozen.
- Prepare the Hens: Rinse the hens inside and out, pat them dry, and remove any excess fat. Season them generously with salt and pepper.
- Stuffing Options: If desired, stuff the hens with your favorite stuffing. Herb stuffing, bread stuffing, or wild rice stuffing are all great choices.
- Trussing the Hens: Trussing helps the hens cook evenly and keeps the stuffing in place. Use kitchen twine to tie the legs and wings securely.
- Cooking the Hens: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Roast the hens uncovered for 40-50 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (74°C).
- Basting the Hens: Baste the hens every 15-20 minutes with the melted butter or olive oil to keep them moist and flavorful.
- Make the Cranberry-Orange Sauce: While the hens are roasting, prepare the cranberry-orange sauce. Combine cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the cranberries have softened and the sauce has thickened.
- Resting the Hens: Once the hens are cooked, remove them from the oven and 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:
Herb Cornish hens with cranberry-orange sauce is a delicious and elegant dish perfect for special occasions or a cozy family dinner. The tender and flavorful hens, complemented by the tangy and sweet sauce, create a memorable dining experience. With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can easily impress your guests with this classic culinary delight. Enjoy!
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