BAKED CORNISH HENS RECIPES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring broth and rice to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 60-70 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. , Meanwhile, in a nonstick skillet, saute onion and celery in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the apricots, almonds, 1/3 cup apricot nectar, 1/4 cup wine, 1/4 teaspoon salt, poultry seasoning and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Stir into cooked rice. , Spoon mixture into four mounds in a shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray; top each with a Cornish hen half. Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180°. , In a large saucepan, combine remaining nectar and wine. Bring to a boil; cook for 5-7 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. Add the vinegar, cinnamon and remaining salt and pepper. Reduce heat; cook and stir over medium-low heat for 1 minute. Serve with hens and rice.

Steps:

• With a pair of sharp kitchen shears, cut down along both sides of the hens backbone to remove. Place the hens breast side up on cutting board and with a sharp knife cut each hen in half through the breast bone. Loosen the skin on each hen, by running your fingers underneath. ( thigh and breast ) Tuck wings under bird.
• With a sharp thin knife, poke the fat of the bird several times. Pat the birds dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the underside of each bird with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt.
• Add remainder of salt to a small bowl, to this mix with oil. Stir in the baking powder. Rub this mixture on the breast and thigh meat evenly of each halve. Sprinkle with pepper. Place each halve on a single layer of a platter or sheet pan, uncovered. Refrigerate up to 4 hours, but 24 hours is better.
• Remove from fridge. Preheat oven to 500 degree F. Place a sheet pan with edges into oven to preheat. This step is to sear the fat without frying..I left mine in for at least 20 minutes. Spray each hen piece with cooking spray. Then place each piece of hen skin side down in single row onto hot sheet pan. You should hear it sizzling. Place back into oven on lowest rack for 10 minutes.
• Next preheat broiler and finish cooking until temp reaches 160 for breast and 175 for thigh and legs, turning pan every so often to brown evenly. I broiled about 15 minutes and they were cooked perfectly. The steps seem like a lot, but are really actually easy and quick. Enjoy!