Tantalize your taste buds with a culinary journey to Morocco, where succulent Cornish hens and fluffy couscous take center stage. This authentic Moroccan-style dish combines exotic spices like cumin, ginger, and saffron, creating a flavorful symphony that will transport you to the heart of Marrakech. Discover the secrets behind this aromatic feast, from the tender, juicy hens roasted to perfection to the fluffy, grain-studded couscous that soaks up all the tantalizing juices. Embark on this delightful culinary adventure and savor the richness of Moroccan cuisine in the comfort of your own kitchen.
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MORROCAN-STYLE ROAST CORNISH HENS WITH VEGETABLES
Categories Chicken Poultry Vegetable Roast Dinner Spice Bell Pepper Turnip Butternut Squash Fall Winter Anniversary Gourmet Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Coarsely grind caraway seeds with salt in an electric coffee/spice grinder or crush with a rolling pin. Mince garlic, then mash to a paste with salt mixture using flat side of a chef's knife. Transfer paste to a large bowl and whisk in honey, lemon juice, oil, spices, and pepper.
- Put zucchini, turnips, bell peppers, butternut squash, and onions in an oiled large roasting pan, then add half of spice mixture and toss until well coated. Stir tomatoes and broth into vegetables. Add hens to large bowl with remaining spice mixture and toss to coat, then arrange hens, breast sides up, over vegetables in pan.
- Cover pan tightly with foil and roast in middle of oven 1 hour. Uncover and roast until hens are browned and vegetables are tender, 20 to 30 minutes more. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Sprinkle herbs on top and spoon some cooking liquid over hens.
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.
MEDITERRANEAN CORNISH HENS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cut the hens in half with kitchen shears, cutting along one side of the breastbone. Place the hens on a rimmed baking sheet, cut-side down; season with salt and pepper. Scatter the lemon slices over and around the hens. Roast until the hens are golden, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 minutes. Add the couscous and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted, 3 minutes. Add the broth; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 8 minutes. Stir in the zucchini, cover and cook until tender, about 3 more minutes; set aside.
- Combine the honey, cumin, paprika and lemon juice. Brush on the hens and continue roasting until cooked through, 5 to 7 more minutes.
- Stir the cilantro and lemon zest into the couscous and season with salt and pepper. Serve with the hens and drizzle with any pan juices.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 676 calorie, Fat 29 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Cholesterol 186 milligrams, Sodium 153 milligrams, Carbohydrate 64 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 37 grams
MOROCCAN STYLE BALSAMIC CORNISH GAME HENS
I've made this recipe often in the past, and while putting together my LJ recipe entry list (see http://www.julesong.com/cook/LJentry-recipes.htm ) I discovered it again! I adapted it to our tastes. It was one of our favorites, is perfect for romantic dinners, and it's absolutely delicious! Although it's easy to make, it takes a bit of time but is worth every minute. In my Sunday, February 10th, 2002 LJ entry, and her original was posted by KC at Gail's Recipe Swap. Thanks, KC! She said "I always add lots of extra olives and dates. They taste wonderful. I have even caught friends in the kitchen looking through the pan for more olives and dates."
Provided by Julesong
Categories Poultry
Time 1h40m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Rinse the game hens under running water. Pat dry and cut them in half lengthwise (kitchen scissors work fine).
- Arrange orange slices in bottom of a 9x13" glass baking dish. Top with game hens.
- Mix 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped garlic and 1 1/4 teaspoons cumin in bowl. Rub mixture all over hens. Wash your hands well with soap and hot water.
- Whisk together port, sherry, oil, vinegar, and honey in small bowl. Taste it to see if the mixture is to your taste, then if it is, pour over hens. (There is quite a difference between the taste of balsamic vinegar - which is sweet - and red wine vinegar, so if you use wine vinegar you'll definitely want to taste the mixture and adjust the amount of honey to your preference before pouring it over the hens.).
- Tuck dates and olives between hens and season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 12 hours or overnight, turning hens once. (I've made this recipe beginning in the morning and marinated it 6-8 hrs during the day, too, and it was still delicious.).
- Remove hens from refrigerator and place on counter, covered, for at least 30 minutes. (You don't want to put a chilled baking dish straight into a preheated oven.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Turn the hens skin side up, then bake hens with marinade, dates and olives until hens are cooked through, basting occasionally, about 40 minutes.
- Transfer hens, dates and olives to serving platter. Discard orange slices. Pour the pan juices into a heavy small saucepan.
- Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon cumin and 1 tsp butter and simmer until reduced to about half, whisking frequently, about 5 minutes.
- Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spoon some sauce over hens. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro.
- Serve, passing remaining sauce separately in a gravy or sauce bowl.
- Note: when I first made this recipe, I didn't have fresh cilantro on hand, and couldn't even find dried in our herb stash, which surprised me. Mike collects herbs and spices, and we have a huge collection in the pantry. (I call him Condiment Man.) I had a bunch of a nice Italian dried herb mix (basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, savory, sage), so used that instead. I know it's not really an equivalent to cilantro, but it smelled wonderful anyhow and it tasted great, too. I also add lots more green olives and dates, which the recipe reflects :)
- Note #2: if you want/need to serve more than two people, you can use the above marinade for up to 6 hens, then you'll need to begin adding more ingredients.
Tips:
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. This will help to evenly distribute the heat and prevent the couscous from sticking.
- Rinse the couscous before cooking. This will help to remove any dirt or debris.
- Use a 1:2 ratio of couscous to liquid. This will ensure that the couscous is cooked properly.
- Bring the liquid to a boil before adding the couscous. This will help to prevent the couscous from clumping.
- Cover the pot and cook the couscous for the amount of time specified on the package. Do not overcook the couscous, or it will become mushy.
- Fluff the couscous with a fork before serving. This will help to separate the grains and make the couscous light and fluffy.
Conclusion:
Moroccan-style Cornish hens with couscous is a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for a special occasion. The combination of spices and the tender meat of the Cornish hens makes this dish a surefire hit. If you are looking for a new and exciting way to cook Cornish hens, this recipe is definitely worth trying.
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