Cornish Game Hens With Orzo Risotto And Grilled Zucchini Food

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Oil and salt the hens, let sit to come to room temp: Pat the hens dry with paper towels, then coat them with the olive oil. Salt well and set aside for 15-30 minutes; the hens will cook better if they are at room temperature.
• Prepare the grill: While the hens are coming to room temperature, get your grill hot. Make sure the grates are clean. Just before you put the birds on the grill, soak a paper towel in some oil and use tongs to wipe down the grill grates.
• Season and rest before serving: Move the hens off the grill and grind some black pepper over them. Let the birds rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with lemon wedges on the side. Links: How to Spatchcock (Butterfly) Chicken , here on Simply Recipes Smoked Soy-Honey-Rum Cornish Hens , from She Simmers Game Hens with Caprese Salad , from Guilty Kitchen

TUSCAN GRILLED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Sprinkle the Cornish hens with 1 teaspoon salt on each side.
• Combine the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a ceramic or glass dish just large enough to hold the flattened hens. Add the hens, and turn to coat. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, turning once or twice.
• When ready to grill, prepare a hot charcoal fire on one side of a grill (or turn a gas grill on low heat). Spread 1/4 of the coals across the other side of the grill. Place the hens on the cooler side skin-side up and weigh them down with a gratin dish with a foil-wrapped brick inside.
• Cook for 12 minutes, until the underside is golden brown. Turn the hens skin-side down, weigh them down again, and cook for another 12 minutes until the skin is golden brown and the hens are cooked through.
• Place the lemon halves on the cool side of the grill, cut-side down, for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove the Cornish hens and lemons to a plate or cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut the hens in half, sprinkle with fleur de sel, and serve with the grilled lemon halves.

GRILLED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and place the Cornish hens skin side down on a cutting board.
• Using kitchen shears cut along one side of the backbone from the tail towards the neck. Cut along the other side of the backbone to remove it completely.
• Turn the hen over and bend the legs so they face outward. Using two hands, press down firmly on the breast until you hear the breastbone cracking. Repeat with the remaining birds.
• Add olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, parsley, salt, and pepper to a large bowl or large Ziploc bag and mix everything together. Add in the hens and use your hands to move everything around making sure they are coated well in the marinade.
• Preheat half the grill to 350°F/180°C. Clean and oil the grilling grates to help prevent the birds from sticking.
• Place the hens skin side up over the heat/coals and brush them with the remaining marinade. Cover and cook for 5 minutes then flip and cook for another 15-25 minutes.
• Remove from the grill and serve.

GRILLED CORNISH HENS WITH PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to broil.
• With a mallet or meat pounder, flatten the hens. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Arrange the halves in one layer in a baking dish.
• Place the mustard, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce in a small mixing bowl, and blend well with a wire whisk. Brush both sides of the hens with the mixture.
• Brush the hens with oil, and place skin side down in a baking dish. Place under the broiler about 4 inches from the heat source, and cook for about 10 minutes, basting occasionally. Turn, and continue cooking for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Baste often.
• Blend the pecans, scallions and sage. Sprinkle the hens with the mixture and the melted butter.
• Reduce heat to 400 degrees and continue cooking for about 10 minutes, basting occasionally, until the hens are nicely browned. Sprinkle with parsley.

ROAST CORNISH GAME HEN WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F. Combine fennel, leek, carrots, 1 teaspoon thyme and 1 tablespoon oil in 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish; toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush hen halves with remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon thyme, salt and pepper. Arrange hen halves atop vegetables. Roast 15 minutes.
• Pour wine onto vegetables in dish. Continue to roast until vegetables are tender and hen is cooked through, stirring vegetables occasionally, about 8 minutes longer. Serve hen with vegetables.

GRILLED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the butter, onions, parsley, ginger, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. , Rub mixture under the skin and over the top of each game hen. Sprinkle remaining salt and pepper inside the hen cavities. , Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. Prepare grill for indirect heat, using a drip pan. , Place hens breast side up over drip pan; grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 45-60 minutes or until a thermometer reads 180° and the meat juices run clear.

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• In a large, non-reactive bowl, mix onion, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, white wine, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, pepper, celery salt, and salt. Place Cornish game hens in the bowl, coating evenly with the marinade mixture. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Cook hens about 1 hour on the prepared grill, brushing occasionally with remaining marinade, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

CORNISH GAME HENS, WITH ORZO RISOTTO AND GRILLED ZUCCHINI RECIPE

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, rosemary, thyme, parsley, and crushed red pepper. Mix to combine and set aside. Place the hens on a cutting board. With a boning knife, cut along the backbone and remove. Place the hens breast-side down and using the heel of your hand, push down to break the breastbone and flatten. Tuck the wing tips behind the joint of the wing that meets the breast. Place in a 9- by 13-inch, non-reactive baking dish and add the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours, turning occasionally to evenly coat. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees and preheat the bricks for 20 minutes. (Alternately, heat the bricks on the grill for 30 minutes.) Preheat a grill to medium heat. Remove the birds from the marinade and season on both sides with the Essence, salt, and pepper. Place the birds, breast-side down, on the grill. Place 2 bricks on each bird to cover completely and flatten. Cook for 5 minutes, turn at a 90 degree angle and cook, for 5 minutes. Remove the bricks and turn the birds. Cook on the second side for 2 minutes, then turn 90 degrees and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from the grill, place on a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut each bird in half lengthwise. Serve with the Orzo Risotto and Grilled Zucchini. For the Orzo Risotto: In a 2-quart saucepan set over a medium high heat, add the olive oil and butter. Once the oil is hot and the butter is melted, add the orzo and toast lightly, about 3 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring. Add the wine, stir, and cook to deglaze the pan. Once the wine has nearly evaporated, add 2 cups of the stock, stirring constantly until the stock has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups of stock, the salt, and white pepper, and cook until it has been absorbed by the orzo. Add the parsley and stir to blend. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheese. Stir in the butter and adjust the seasoning, to taste. For the Grilled Zucchini: Place zucchini, salt, pepper and olive oil in a large mixing bowl and toss well to evenly coat. Place on a grill over low heat and cook, turning, for 3 to 4 minutes. This recipe yields 4 servings.