Game Hens With Sumac Pomegranate And Cardamom Rice Food

GAME HENS WITH SUMAC, POMEGRANATE AND CARDAMOM RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Season birds inside and out with salt, then tie legs together with butcher twine. In a small bowl, mix together the sumac, cinnamon and black pepper. Sprinkle spice mix evenly over exterior of birds and put a pinch in the cavities, too.
• Place seasoned birds in a roasting pan just big enough to fit and drizzle all over with pomegranate molasses. Turn birds breast-side down and add water to pan to a depth of ½ inch. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 and turn birds breast-side up. Continue cooking for another 20 to 25 minutes, using a brush to baste birds with pan juices frequently, until well browned. Juices in thigh should run clear when pierced with a paring knife.
• Meanwhile, make the rice: Put rinsed basmati rice in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add cardamom, cloves, butter, currants, raisins, 2 1/2 cups water (or broth) and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then put on lid and turn heat to very low. Cook rice for 15 minutes, then turn off heat. Leave covered for 10 minutes.
• To serve, fluff rice and mound on a large warmed platter. Surround rice with finished birds and give birds a last dab of the pan juices. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and pine nuts over everything and garnish with mint. Serve the pleasantly tart pan juices separately.

GLAZED CORNISH HENS WITH POMEGRANATE-RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix the cinnamon, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl; sprinkle all over the hens and inside the cavities. Place the hens on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight. Meanwhile, soak the grape leaves in water 1 hour.
• Bring the chicken broth and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; add the rice blend and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot, garlic, ginger and cumin and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat; add the cooked rice, pomegranate seeds, and chopped parsley and cilantro; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Add the egg yolks and stir to combine.
• Make the glaze: Bring the orange juice and pomegranate molasses to a boil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Fill the cavity of each hen with about 1/2 cup of the rice mixture (reserve the rest); tie the legs together with twine. Roast 20 minutes, then brush with the pomegranate glaze. Continue roasting, glazing every 10 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F to 170 degrees F, 1 hour to 1 hour, 10 minutes. (Rotate the hens halfway through cooking; if the skin gets too dark, cover loosely with foil.)
• Meanwhile, drain the grape leaves and pat dry. Use some of the leaves to line a 9-inch pie dish. Fill with the reserved rice mixture and drizzle with 2 tablespoons water. Cover with the remaining grape leaves, shiny side up, then cover with foil. (If you aren't using grape leaves, spoon the rice into a pie dish, sprinkle with water and cover with foil.) After the hens have roasted about 20 minutes, transfer the rice to the oven and cook until heated through, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer the hens to a platter and add some parsley and cilantro sprigs and pomegranate seeds. Peel the grape leaves off the top of the rice and serve alongside the hens.

POMEGRANATE AND HONEY ROASTED GAME HENS

Steps:

• Mix pomegranate juice, 1/2 cup honey, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, and garlic: pour over hens.
• Marinate overnight or at least 8 hours in refrigerator turning occasionally.
• Drain marinade from hens reserving the liquid.
• Simmer marinade for 10.
• Season hens with salt and pepper.
• Bake at 450 degrees F., brushing frequently with reserved marinade until meat is firm to the touch; about 20 minutes.
• Brush with honey.
• Enjoy.

POMEGRANATE GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 deress Season game hens with salt,pepper and thyme cook on rack for 1 hr.
• or until done.
• Brush pomegranate glaze on hens.
• Roast another 5 mins.
• Sprinkle with fresh pomegranat arils.
• Serve wigth remaining glaze as a sauce.
• Pomegranate Glaze To juice pomegranate slice in half crosswise and use a citrus juicer.
• In stainless stell sauce pan simmer juice with a pinch of salt until reduced to a syrupy glaze about 10 Mins.

DEBONED AND STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse and cook wild rice to package instructions; set aside.
• Spread cubed cornbread in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Broil 5 to 6 inches from heat for 4 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring after 2 minutes; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and garlic; cook and stir for 3 minutes.
• Add mushrooms; cook for 3 more minutes stirring occasionally.
• Add rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper and cooked rice; cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Stir in broth.
• Add pecans and toasted bread cubes; toss lightly.
• Stuff deboned Cornish Game Hens with stuffing.
• Truss deboned Cornish Game Hens with toothpicks and long skewers.
• Roast Cornish Game Hens in oven for 1 hour or until done.
• Making the sauce -- Whisk the stock and pomegranate juice into the roux to get a smooth mix and add the mushrooms.
• Bring the sauce to a low simmering boil and cook for 10 minutes.
• Strain to remove the mushrooms, add nutmeg, season to taste and serve over the game hens.