40 Cloves Of Garlic Roasted Cornish Hen Food

CHICKEN WITH 40 CLOVES OF GARLIC

Steps:

• When I was young, this old French classic was still - though in a quiet way - very much in vogue. I dare say it was because the novelty of using so many garlic cloves had not worn off; it seemed somehow dangerously excessive. Even so, I don't think anyone would think it quite unremarkable now to put 40 cloves of garlic in a casserole. Certainly, if you peeled and chopped - let alone minced - the garlic, it would be inedible, but garlic cloves cooked encased in their skins grow sweet and caramelly as they cook, like savory bonbons in their sticky wrappers, rather than breathing out acrid heat. This is a cozy supper, not a caustic one.
• This dish entered my canon under someone else's auspices. A few years ago, for the fortieth birthday of a then-colleague and friend of mine, Nick Thorogood, his partner asked everyone to contribute something written expressly for purpose to be compiled in a fat tribute of a book. Since most of Nick's and my conversation dwells, with almost fetid passion, on food, it seemed only proper to write a recipe for him. And given that it was his fortieth birthday, this seemed the right recipe.
• It is not quite the classic version (not that there is only one: food is as variable as the people who cook it) but it sticks to the basic principles. Maybe because the white meat on chicken tends towards the utterly tasteless these days, I prefer to use not a whole chicken, but thigh portions only. Naturally, this wouldn't make sense if you were raising your own chickens, then slaughtering them for the pot, as was the custom when this recipe came into being (and very good it would have been, too, for adding oomph to an old bird) but if you're following the contemporary shopping model, it works very well. For some reason, I veer towards recipes that can easily be cooked in one of my wide and shallow cast-iron Dutch ovens and this fits the bill perfectly.
• By all means, add some steamed or boiled potatoes alongside if you wish, but I'd prefer, by far, a baguette or two to be torn up and dunked into the flavorsome juices; though don't rule out the option of sourdough toast, which is the perfect vehicle for spreading the sweet-cooked garlic onto. Otherwise, some green beans or baby peas or a plain green salad is all you need for a sure-fire salivation-inducing supper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the oil on the stovetop in a wide, shallow ovenproof and flameproof Dutch oven (that will ultimately fit all the chicken in one layer, and that has a lid), and sear the chicken over a high heat, skin-side down. This may take 2 batches, so transfer the browned pieces to a bowl as you go.
• Once the chicken pieces are seared, transfer them all to the bowl. Finely slice the scallions, put them into the Dutch oven and quickly stir-fry them with the leaves torn from a few sprigs of thyme.
• Put 20 of the unpeeled cloves of garlic (papery excess removed) into the pan, top with the chicken pieces skin-side up, then cover with the remaining 20 cloves of garlic. Add the vermouth (or white wine) to any oily, chickeny juices left in the bowl. Swish it around and pour this into the pan too. Sprinkle with the salt, grind over the pepper, and add a few more sprigs of thyme. Put on the lid and cook in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.
• Make Ahead Note: Chicken can be browned and casserole assembled 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator. Season with salt and pepper and warm the pan gently on the stovetop for 5 minutes before baking as directed in recipe.
• Making Leftovers Right: If I do have any chicken left over - and I don't think I've ever had more than 1 thigh portion - I take out the bone then and there and put the chicken in the refrigerator. Later (within a day or two), I make a garlicky soup, by removing the chicken, adding some chicken broth or water to the cold, jelled juices, placing it over a high heat and, when that's hot, shredding the chicken into it and heating it through thoroughly, till everything is piping hot. You can obviously add rice or pasta. Otherwise, mash any leftover garlic into the concentrated liquid (which will be solid when cold), chop up some leftover chicken, and put it all into a saucepan with some cream. Reheat gently until everything is piping hot, and use as a pasta sauce or serve with rice.

CHICKEN WITH 40 CLOVES OF GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cut the top third off 2 heads of garlic, exposing the tops of the garlic cloves. Put each head on a piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle each with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap tightly and roast until the cloves are golden brown and very soft, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly. Leave the oven on.
• Unwrap the roasted garlic and pour any garlic-flavored oil from the foil into a small bowl. Squeeze the roasted cloves into the same bowl, discarding the papery shells. Mash with a fork until smooth; set aside.
• Peel and trim the remaining head of garlic. Thinly slice 5 cloves. Heat about 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat, then add 1 slice of garlic. Cook until the garlic is at a lively sizzle, then sprinkle in the rest of the sliced garlic. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is just golden and crisp (don't overcook or it will be bitter), about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Set aside.
• Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in 2 batches skin-side down and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Discard the oil and return the Dutch oven to medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and the remaining garlic cloves and cook until the garlic is light golden, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, lemon juice, thyme and half of the reserved garlic paste. Bring to a boil.
• Use a fork to mash together the flour and remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small bowl until smooth. Whisk the butter-flour mixture into the Dutch oven until dissolved. Cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Nestle in the chicken skin-side up along with any collected juices from the plate. Cover and bake until the chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the Parmesan, parsley and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the remaining garlic paste. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper.
• Put the bread halves on a baking sheet and spread with the garlic mixture. When the chicken has 10 minutes left, add the bread to the oven and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Cut the bread into pieces. Top the chicken with the reserved garlic chips and chopped parsley.

CHICKEN WITH FORTY CLOVES OF GARLIC

Steps:

• Separate the cloves of garlic and drop them into a pot of boiling water for 60 seconds. Drain the garlic and peel. Set aside.
• Dry the chicken with paper towels. Season liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat the butter and oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. In batches, saute the chicken in the fat, skin side down first, until nicely browned, about 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Turn with tongs or a spatula; you don't want to pierce the skin with a fork. If the fat is burning, turn the heat down to medium. When a batch is done, transfer it to a plate and continue to saute all the chicken in batches. Remove the last chicken to the plate and add all of the garlic to the pot. Lower the heat and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, turning often, until evenly browned. Add 2 tablespoons of the Cognac and the wine, return to a boil, and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the chicken to the pot with the juices and sprinkle with the thyme leaves. Cover and simmer over the lowest heat for about 30 minutes, until all the chicken is done.
• Remove the chicken to a platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of the sauce and the flour and then whisk it back into the sauce in the pot. Raise the heat, add the remaining tablespoon of Cognac and the cream, and boil for 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste; it should be very flavorful because chicken tends to be bland. Pour the sauce and the garlic over the chicken and serve hot.

CHICKEN WITH 40 CLOVES OF GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the Dutch oven and brown on all sides in the butter and oil, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to a cutting board.
• Drain all but 2 tablespoons of liquid from the pan; stir the garlic cloves into the reserved liquid. Return the chicken to the pan; sprinkle the water, lemon juice, salt, thyme, and black pepper over the chicken; cover tightly.
• Bake the chicken in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 90 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

CORNISH HENS WITH FORTY CLOVES OF GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut 6 garlic cloves crosswise into very thin slices. Set aside in a small bowl. In another small bowl, set aside 12 cloves. Pick leaves from 3 or 4 springs oregano, and set aside in a small bowl. Place remaining garlic cloves and oregano, onion, celery, and bay leaves in the bottom of a medium nonstick roasting pan.
• With your finger, gently loosen the skin on the breast of the hens. Gently slide a few garlic slices and a few oregano leaves under the skin in a single layer. Place 4 garlic cloves, 1 sprig oregano, and 2 lemon wedges in the cavity of each hen; set aside remaining lemon wedges.
• Tie each hen's legs together with kitchen twine. Tuck wings under breast; place hens in pan over the garlic mixture.
• Add wine and 1/2 cup chicken stock to pan. Brush the skin with melted butter; transfer pan to oven.
• Cook, basting occasionally and adding more chicken stock to pan if dry, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.when measured with a meat thermometer, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove hens from pan, and set aside on a board to rest 5 minutes before serving with reserved lemon wedges.

FORTY CLOVE CORNISH HENS WITH LEMON AND OREGANO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut 6 garlic cloves crosswise into very thin slices. Set aside in a small bowl. In another small bowl, set aside 12 cloves. Pick leaves from 3 or 4 sprigs oregano, and set aside in a small bowl. Set aside 3 sprigs oregano. Place remaining garlic cloves and oregano, onion, celery, and bay leaves in the bottom of a medium nonstick roasting pan.
• With your finger, gently loosen the skin on the breast of the hens. Gently slide a few garlic slices and a few oregano leaves under the skin in a single layer. Place 4 garlic cloves, 1 sprig oregano, and 2 lemon wedges in the cavity of each hen; set aside remaining lemon wedges.
• Tie each hen's legs together with kitchen twine. Tuck wings under breast; place hens in pan over the garlic mixture.
• Add wine and 1/2 cup chicken stock to pan. Brush the skin with melted butter; transfer pan to oven.
• Cook, basting occasionally and adding more chicken stock to pan if dry, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees when measured with a meat thermometer, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove hens from pan, and set aside on a board to rest 5 minutes before serving with reserved lemon wedges.

ROASTED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pat the hens dry with a cloth. Slice lemon in half and squeeze juice into a medium bowl. Stuff hen cavities with half lemon, 2 cloves garlic and 1/2 branch of fresh rosemary. Add honey, oil and salt and pepper to lemon juice and blend together. Baste the hens with the lemon honey sauce. Place in a small roasting pan and roast for 20 minutes. Reduce heat and continue roasting for 20 to 30 minutes basting the hens occasionally. Roast the hens until the juices run clear from the thigh. Transfer hens to cutting board and let sit for 10 minutes. Place roasting pan on stove burner and stir in white wine. Bring to a simmer and scrape brown bits from bottom of pan. Stir in chicken stock and simmer. Serve hens hot with sauce.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC CLOVES AND ONION

Steps:

• Sprinkle the seasoning salt on the birds.
• Stuff 2 cloves in each hen. Sprinkle the rest of the cloves in the baking dish.
• Place the hens on top of the garlic. Add the onions.
• Preheat oven 350*.
• Cover with dish with foil.
• Bake 1 hour.
• Note: Uncover after 1 hour to brown the birds. About 15 to 20 minutes or so. Check.
• Mixed Sauce for Mashed Potatoes:.
• Take all cooked garlic cloves and cooked onion pieces and the drippings. Place in a blender and pulse twice.
• Add to mashed dry potatoes. Add milk, salt and pepper. Serve with margarine or butter.

GARLIC & ROSEMARY CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450.
• Rinse and pat dry game hens.
• Season cavities lightly with salt& pepper.
• Cut lemon into 4 wedges.
• Place 1 wedge inside each hen along with 1 sprig of the rosemary and 1 clove peeled garlic Rub outside of hens with 1 tbl of oil.
• Season outside of hen lightly with salt& pepper.
• Place hens in pan placing peeled garlic around all.
• Roast hens for appx 25 minutes at 450.
• Reduce temp to 350 and pour wine, broth and remaining oil over hens.
• Continue to cook for about 25 minutes (or until juice from thickest part runs clear) Be sure to baste about every 10 minutes in this final cooking time.
• Remove hens from pan and pour remaining juices as well as any juices from the cavities into medium saucepan Boil juices about 6 to 8 minutes (or until desired consistency).
• Arrange hens on plates and spoon sauce and garlic over and around each, add additional rosemary as a garnish if you like.
• The 4-8 servings is that you can cut the hens in half to double the servings.
• This goes very well with a light salad and rice pilaf (and of course a glass of wine).

CHICKEN WITH 40 CLOVES OF GARLIC IN A CLAY POT

Steps:

• Soak top and bottom of 3 1/4 quart clay cooker in water about 15 minutes; drain.
• Line bottom and sides of cooker with parchment paper.
• Combine olive oil, garlic and herbs in cooker.
• Rinse and pat dry chicken reserving neck and giblets for other use.
• Place chicken over garlic mixture.
• Drizzle with lemon juice.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place covered cooker in COLD oven.
• Set oven at 475 degrees F.
• Bake until chicken is tender and juices run clear when thigh is pierced, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Remove cover; bake until chicken is crisp and brown.
• 5 to 10 minutes.
• Carve chicken and spoon cooking liquid over chicken.
• Serve with garlic and french bread.