Remove hens from oven, spread remaining butter over each hen and rest 10 minutes. And because we’re big salad lovers over here, we think every Thanksgiving spread needs a salad (or two!). There are a variety of ways you can cook cornish hens; roast, grill, and smoke are a few, but broiling or roasting is best for ease and consistency. There are several different methods you can use to cook cornish hens. The most popular methods arebaking, roasting, and grilling.

  • Plus Shop a collection of my favorite kitchen tools, books and more.
  • Seeing so many awesome food posts is dangerous, makes me want to go to the store then cook!
  • Arrange cooked pieces on a bed of roasted vegetables, rice pilaf or mixed greens tossed with a little vinaigrette; that way, they won’t look skimpy.

I’m curious; you mention not to use a metal pot to brine the hens but it looks like you used an aluminum pot for yours. I would love to use what I have of possible. We made this tonight for dinner and decided it was the ABSOLUTE BEST brine recipe !!! We will use this recipe on every bird we cook !!

Cornish Game Hens Baked in Salt Dough

An instant read thermometer is the best way to check the temperature of your poultry. Put it in the thickest part of the hen which is typically the thigh area. If you do not have a thermometer, check doneness by pulling the leg. There should be some give and if you cut a small slit in the chicken, the meat should no longer be pink with clear juices running out.

Brush hens with oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. These poussins are gorgeous Italian beauties. They are rubbed all over with olive oil, garlic, and rosemary, and wrapped in prosciutto di Parma. The skin bubbles up, the garlic and rosemary toast and infuse, and the prosciutto crisps into a salty shell.

Tips for Roasting Cornish Game Hens

They’re just mini chickens that are bred specifically to mature quickly to a final weight of less than 2 pounds. They are the result of cross-breeding between a Cornish chicken and white Plymouth rock hen and can be either male or female. Optional Gravy – As they roast over a bed of aromatics, these little hens create flavorful pan juices. Use them to make an easy gravy or just spoon the juices over the roasted Cornish hens.

PREPARE STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS:

Personally, I think it is delicious with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and a delicious roll. At least 12 hours or more before you intend to cook your Cornish hens, start the brine. Since our first Christmas dinner as a married couple, the Cornish game hen has become a regular feature. But really you can Cooking Games – Coffee Games eat them anytime you want.