**Cornish hens**, also known as **poussin**, are small, young chickens that are typically roasted whole. They have a delicate flavor and moist, tender meat, making them a popular choice for special occasions or intimate dinners. This article presents a collection of flavorful roast Cornish hen recipes that cater to diverse preferences. From the classic Roast Cornish Hens with Sage Butter, featuring a crispy skin and a savory sage-infused butter, to the tantalizing Harissa and Honey Cornish Hens, offering a sweet and spicy twist, there's a recipe for every palate. For those who love a smoky flavor, the Smoked Paprika and Garlic Cornish Hens is a must-try. Additionally, the article includes a recipe for Roasted Cornish Hens with Apples and Onions, which combines the sweetness of apples with the savory notes of onions. Lastly, the Lemon and Herb Cornish Hens offers a refreshing citrusy flavor profile, perfect for a summer meal. Whether you prefer a simple yet elegant dish or one with bold and complex flavors, these roast Cornish hen recipes are sure to impress your guests and make any occasion memorable.
Let's cook with our recipes!
HERB-STUFFED ROASTED CORNISH HENS
If you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your dinner table, we suggest this moist Cornish game hen recipe. A blend of sage, lemon, onion and garlic give this entree outstanding flavor. -Taste of Home Cooking School
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Gently lift skin from hen breasts and place sage leaves under skin. Place lemon wedges and a third of the onions in the cavities. Tuck wings under hens; tie legs together. Place in a small greased roasting pan. , Combine butter, oil, lemon juice and garlic; spoon half of mixture over hens. Sprinkle with salt and pepper., Bake 30 minutes. Add potatoes and remaining onions to pan. Brush hens with remaining butter mixture. Bake until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175° and potatoes are tender, 40-45 minutes longer., Remove hens to a serving platter. Stir potatoes and onions to coat with pan drippings. Serve with hens.
Nutrition Facts : Fat 67 g fat (22 g saturated fat), Cholesterol 379 mg cholesterol, Sodium 1,398 mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29 g carbohydrate, Fiber 4 g fiber, Protein 63 g protein.
CORNISH HENS
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place the sliced onion in the bottom of a roasting pan. Remove the giblets from the hens, and rinse them inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outsides dry. Place the hens on top of the sliced onion.
- Pack the cavities of the hens with the cornbread stuffing.
- Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the hens. Rub the hens with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast the hens for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.
- Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Break the cornbread into pieces and place the pieces in a large bowl. Add the onion mixture to the cornbread. Add the celery, chicken stock, parsley, salt and pepper, and mix together.
- Yield: 2 servings
ROAST CORNISH HENS WITH SAGE BUTTER
Steps:
- In a small bowl blend together well 2 tablespoons of the butter with the sage,the zest, and the salt. Loosen the skin covering the breast meat on each hen by slipping your fingers under the skin and sliding them between the skin and the meat. Divide the butter mixture between the hens, inserting it under the skin of each hen and smoothing it evenly by rubbing the outside of the skin, and season the hens with salt and pepper. Tie each hen's legs together with kitchen string.
- In a large ovenproof heavy skillet or small flameproof roasting pan heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides, in it sauté the hens, breast sides up, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the underside is golden brown, and roast them in the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven, basting them with the pan juices every 10 minutes, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the fleshy part of the thigh registers 180°F. Let the hens stand for 5 minutes and discard the string.
ROSEMARY ROAST CORNISH HENS
Provided by Food Network
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Remove the giblets from the hens. Rinse the hens with cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Place the hens in a large self-sealing food-storage bag and pour the marinade over them. Close the bag securely and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Shake the bag once or twice to coat the hens evenly with the marinade. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Remove the hens from the plastic bag and pat dry with paper towels. Season the hens inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity loosely with the Cornbread Herbed Stuffing. Rub or brush butter over the skin of the hens and place the hens breast side up in a shallow roasting pan, large enough to allow space between the hens.
- Roast for 15 minutes to brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and baste frequently with pan drippings and melted butter. Continue roasting for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the flesh is pierced with a sharp knife.
- In saute pan, melt the butter. Saute the onions and celery in the butter until tender. In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes with onions, celery, poultry seasoning, and herbs. Add the eggs and enough chicken stock to slightly moisten and barely bind the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Yield: 9 to 10 cups;
BUTTERFLIED CORNISH HENS WITH SAGE BUTTER
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place hens on a sheet tray fitted with a cooling rack in the refrigerator to dry skin out for 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a small pan over medium heat, melt butter with sage, zest, salt and pepper. Remove hens from refrigerator. Preheat 2 large saute pans over medium heat, lightly coat with oil. Season hens with salt and pepper and sear, skin side down, in the pans. Sear until skin caramelizes and turns golden brown and crispy, about 7 to 10 minutes. Flip birds over, and baste with sage butter. Sprinkle tops with chopped bacon and place in preheated oven to finish cooking, 25 to 30 minutes, basting occasionally. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
HERB ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS
Provided by Sandra Lee
Time 1h7m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and put a baking rack on top.
- Mix together the grill seasoning, dressing, and chopped herbs in a small bowl. Reserve 2 tablespoons. Generously rub the hens inside and out with the herb and dressing mixture. Stuff each hen with a sprig of each herb and a piece of lemon.
- In a large bowl, combine the carrots, onions and potatoes with the reserved 2 tablespoons of dressing mixture, a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Put the vegetables in a large roasting pan and arrange the hens on top. Roast them until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer registers 180 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, about 50 to 55 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, cover with foil and let the hens rest for 5 minutes before serving. Transfer the hens to a large serving tray with the roasted vegetables.
ROAST CORNISH HENS WITH HERBS AND PANCETTA
Provided by Moira Hodgson
Categories dinner, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Chop the sage, rosemary and thyme and mix with the butter. Push the herb butter under the loosened skin of the breasts of the poussins or hens. Truss the poussins, season with salt and pepper and cover the breasts with pancetta. Sprinkle with olive oil.
- Place the poussins in a roasting pan and roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Degrease the pan juices and season to taste. Place each poussin on a heated plate and pour a serving of sauce around each one.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1032, UnsaturatedFat 51 grams, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Fat 83 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 65 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 955 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
ROASTED CORNISH HEN WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425° F. Remove all visible fat and the neck and giblets from the Cornish hens. Rinse the hens under cold water and pat them dry inside and out with paper towels. Season the birds generously with salt and pepper, inside and out. Place one rosemary sprig, 2 sage leaves, and 1 bay leaf in the body cavity of each bird.
- Heat the oil in a heavy, flameproof roasting pan or very large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the scallions, carrots, celery, porcini, and the remaining rosemary and sage leaves and cook, stirring, until the scallions are wilted, about 4 minutes. Smooth the vegetables into an even layer and nestle the prepared birds, breast side up, over them. Roast, basting frequently with enough of the chicken stock to keep the vegetables well moistened, until the vegetables and hens are golden brown-about 45 minutes.
- Carefully tilt the pan and spoon off enough of the roasting juices to measure 1 cup, not including fat. Stir the balsamic vinegar and honey into the measured juices until the honey is dissolved. Return the birds to oven and roast, basting occasionally with the honey mixture, until the birds are a rich mahogany color and the leg joint moves easily when you wiggle it, about 15 minutes.
- Remove the birds from the oven, transfer them to a platter or plates, and cover with a tent of aluminum foil to keep them warm. Strain the pan juices through a sieve into a small saucepan, pressing as much of the liquid from the vegetables as possible. Skim the fat from the surface of the sauce, and bring the sauce to a simmer while carving the birds. With a pair of kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbones to remove them. Cut the birds in half through the center breastbone. Cut each half into leg and breast portions. Arrange the pieces on a platter or plates, and spoon some of the roasting juices over them. Pass the remaining sauce separately.
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SAGE AND GARLIC
Sage is one of my favourite herbs. And who doesn't like garlic!! So this works well for me. Hope it works for you too. This can be prepared ahead of time up to the point of putting it into the oven.
Provided by Tebo3759
Categories Poultry
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Blend 3 Tbs of butter with the sage, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper.
- Separate breast and leg skin from hens.
- Press the mixture under the skins and spread evenly.
- Melt remaining butter and add paprika Brush this butter over the hens.
- Place hens in single layer in shallow oiled pan.
- Roast at 400 F, uncovered, 40 to 45 minutes.
- Baste twice with pan drippings.
Tips:
- Prep the Cornish Hens: Rinse the hens inside and out and pat dry. Season the cavity with salt, pepper, and herbs like thyme or rosemary.
- Trussing for Even Cooking: Use kitchen twine to truss the hens. This helps them cook evenly and keeps the wings and legs in place.
- Browning for Flavor: Before roasting, brown the hens in a skillet with butter or oil. This creates a delicious, golden-brown skin.
- Herbed Butter Enhancement: Combine melted butter with chopped sage, thyme, garlic, and lemon zest. Brush this mixture over the hens during roasting for extra flavor.
- Roasting Perfection: Roast the hens in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for about an hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Rest for Juiciness: After roasting, let the hens rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a juicier bird.
Conclusion:
Roast Cornish hens with sage butter offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures. By following these tips, you can achieve perfectly browned, succulent hens infused with the aromatic flavors of sage and butter. Whether served for a special occasion or a cozy family meal, this dish is sure to impress. Remember to adjust cooking times based on the size of your hens and use a meat thermometer to ensure they are cooked to perfection. Experiment with different herbs and spices to create your own unique variation of this classic recipe. Enjoy the deliciousness of roast Cornish hens with sage butter!
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