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The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
918 | Calories |
41g | Fat |
78g | Carbs |
62g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 2 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 918 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 41g | 53% |
Saturated Fat 12g | 62% |
Cholesterol 264mg | 88% |
Sodium 373mg | 16% |
Total Carbohydrate 78g | 28% |
Dietary Fiber 10g | 37% |
Protein 62g | |
Calcium 267mg | 21% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Although Cornish game hens may seem like a fancy meal, it is very easy to prepare. Cornish hens (also known as poussin or rock Cornish hen) are actually just a hybrid chicken—a broiler chicken and not a game bird. The name is also misleading in that it can be male or female, so it isn't really a hen at all.
This recipe for Cornish game hens is easily doubled for a family. Thyme and chives are called for in this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite combination of fresh or dried herbs. You can roast the hens in a large, heavy skillet or roasting pan.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large clove garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or about 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
- 1 medium onion (quartered and sliced)
- 1 pound small red or gold potatoes (scrubbed and cut in 1- to 2-inch chunks)
- 3 medium carrots (sliced crosswise then lengthwise into strips about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 2 Cornish game hens
- Optional: 2 teaspoons fresh chopped chives or parsley
- Optional: 1 lemon (cut up)
- Optional: 1 small onion (cut into chunks)
- Optional: Sprigs of fresh herbs
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Preheat the oven to 375Â F.Â
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Melt butter with olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over low heat. Add the minced garlic and herbs. Remove about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of the mixture and set aside.
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Add the onion slices, potatoes, and carrots to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat the vegetables with the butter, oil, and herbs; cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes.Â
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Sprinkle the cavities of the game hens with salt and pepper.Â
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Rub the reserved herb mixture all over the hens. If desired, put pieces of lemon and onion and some herb sprigs in the cavities.
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If the skillet is not oven safe, move the vegetable mixture to a baking dish or pan.Â
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Arrange the hens on the vegetables, and place in the oven. Roast for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the hens register at least 165 F in the meatiest part of the thigh, not touching bone.Â
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If the hens are browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil near the end of the cooking time. If they don't brown enough, turn the broiler on for 2 to 3 minutes before you take them out of the oven.Â
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Serve and enjoy!
Glass Bakeware Warning
Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.
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