I've never made Cornish Hens, although I had them a few times in good restaurants years ago,

M

meryl

Well-known member
and loved them. I remember they were very tender, but I really don't remember how much more tender they were compared to roasted whole chickens? Are they worth the extra money?

 
My family makes them all of the time for the holidays and for special occasions....

We usually get them frozen from Costco so they aren't that expensive. It's so nice to serve everyone their own bird! We usually put in a rice or wild rice stuffing, and a favorite glaze is butter, orange juice and a dash of sherry heated in a sauce pan. There's a nice recipe in the porcini thread that I just printed for next time. Sometimes I butterfly them and roast them flat, quick and they get nice and brown on top. Give them a whirl sometime!!!

 
I sometimes make these for Thanksgiving when it's just the 2 of us. a bit more festive to me

than a chicken. I like to serve them with a rice pilaf or wild rice combo, or the risotto stuffing posted up above would be lovely.

 
Yeah, but guys,.. what about the taste and texture? How does it compare to a regular chicken?

 
Heather, I already know about the recipe with porcini, because I'm the one who posted it! heehee!

 
Here is one of my favorite ways with Cornish Hens, if I remember right I had a recipe

for paprika rubbed hens from Gourmet? a long time ago and combined it with a spicier one.

Four Pepper Roasted Hens

Preheat oven to 325

4 Servings

4 Cornish Hens

Mix the following in a small bowl-

1/4 cup olive oil

1 1/2 Tabls. good paprika

1/4 teas. each red, black, and white pepper

2 1/2 teas. salt

In roasting pan mix 1/2 cup each chopped carrots, celery, onion, potato and 1 Tabls. caraway seed.

Sprinkle with olive oil or white wine and roast for 25 minutes, stirring once.

While veggies are roasting, rub pepper mixture over hens--hands work best!!

Place hens on top of veggies and roast 40 minutes, baste and roast 20 minutes more.

I usually make a recipe the way it is written the first time, and, have found I like this with a little more pepper and a little less salt.

Enjoy,
Nan

 
Erk! (she says blushingly!!!) sorry about that Meryl, it does sound delicious!

and about taste and texture, I think the game hens taste exactly like chicken! and I mean that sincerely, not in the "tastes like chicken" genre of comments...!!

 
My all time favorite way to do Cornish Game Hen halves

This serves two who only want half a hen.

Make a mixture of fresh lemon juice, add a little soy sauce (to give skin color, and flavor, melted butter and fresh garlic. Brush each half with the mixture on both sides. Salt and pepper both sides. Line baking sheet with foil, place the two halves on sheet and broil on each side until starting to turn brown.
Turn oven to 350 and finish cooking. the flavor is outstanding. I've tried many recipes for these hen halves and this is our favorite.
Now if you are going to roast a whole hen for one person, there are many that require stuffing and are excellent.

 
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