Roast Game Hens With Sherry Ginger And Lime Food

GAME HENS WITH LIME, GARLIC AND OREGANO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the juice of the 3 limes, garlic, dried oregano and olive oil. Rub all over the hens and set in the refrigerator 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Remove the hens from the refrigerator. Stuff the cavity of each with half of the fresh oregano, a lime half and half of the onion chunks. Tie the legs together with string and sprinkle all over with salt and pepper. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and roast breast side up, 20 minutes. Turn breast side down and roast another 20 minutes. Then turn over again and roast 20 minutes longer (1 hour total). Serve hot.

ROAST GAME HENS WITH SHERRY, GINGER AND LIME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Boil first 6 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 2 minutes.
• Arrange Cornish game hens in roasting pan. Place 1 bacon slice and some rosemary into each hen cavity; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until golden brown and cooked through, basting often with Sherry mixture, about 1 hour. Transfer Cornish game hens to platter.

ROASTED GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens.
• ROASTED GAME HENS WITH ASIAN SPICE RUB: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. In a small bowl, combine the butter, ginger and five-spice powder. Rub the five-spice mixture onto the hens. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens. Yield: 6 servings
• ROASTED GAME HENS STUFFED UNDER THE SKIN WITH HERBED RICOTTA: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the ricotta in a fine sieve and drain for 30 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the drained ricotta, Parmesan, egg yolk, herbs and lemon zest. Put the garlic clove through a garlic press and into the ricotta. Mix well, adding salt and pepper to taste. Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a quarter lemon and a quarter onion in each cavity. Loosen the skin on the breasts by sliding your fingers under the skin, being careful not to pierce it. Spoon the ricotta mixture under the skin (about 4 tablespoons of stuffing per bird.) Truss the birds. Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens. Yield: 6 servings

GRILLED GAME HENS WITH CITRUS, GINGER, AND SOY

Steps:

• Grate the outer layer of peel from the orange and the lemon; juice half the lemon, and place all marinade ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
• Butterfly the game hens: cut out the backbone with sharp kitchen shears, turn the hen over (breast up) and bend the breast backward where it attaches to the breastbone; place your thumbs on either side of the breastbone and press down while pulling up on the outer sides of the breast with your fingers (I find this difficult--I just take the heels of my hands and smash it).
• Place hens in a plastic bag with the marinade, force out excess air, seal tight and leave in the refrigerator overnight.
• Set up grill for indirect cooking. Remove hens from marinade and grill, covered, for about 30 minutes or until breast meat registers 165-170F on an instant-read thermometer (mine took about 45 minutes).

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SESAME-GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Transfer half of marinade to small saucepan; reserve. Pour remaining marinade into 15x10x2-inch glass pyrex dish. Add hens; turn to coat. Marinate 30 minutes to 4 hours in the refrigerator, turning occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F Arrange hens, skin side up, on large brimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with Sesame seeds. Roast until cooked through and brown, about 40 minutes. Transfer to platter. Pour pan juices into saucepan with reserved marinade. Bring to boil, stirring often. Simmer until sauce coats spoon, about 5 minutes; pour into bowl. Serve hens with sauce.

LIME AND SESAME ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Place hens, breast side down in a large shallow glass dish, I use a large zip-top plastic bag.
• Combine soy sauce, vegetable oil, garlic, sesame seeds, brown sugar, ginger and lime juice until well blended.
• Pour marinade over hens.
• Cover and marinate for at least 8 hours.
• Turn occassionally or shake marinating bag.
• Remove hens from marinade.
• Reserve marinade and bring to a full boil in a small saucepan.
• Set aside.
• Place hens in a greased 13 x 9 pan breast side up.
• Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown.
• Baste occasionally with marinade.
• Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and lime wedges.

ROASTED GAME HEN WITH ROOT VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees with racks in top and bottom. Place hen, breast-side down, on a work surface. Using kitchen shears, cut along both sides of backbone to remove. Flip over; split lengthwise with a heavy knife. Pat dry; season with salt and pepper. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss vegetables with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer sheet to bottom rack of oven.
• In an ovenproof skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high. Add hen, skin-side down; cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Flip; transfer skillet to top rack of oven. Roast, stirring vegetables once, until golden, and a thermometer inserted into thickest part of hen thigh reads 165 degrees, 18 to 20 minutes for hen, and 25 to 28 minutes for vegetables. Transfer hen and vegetables to a platter. Return skillet to medium heat; whisk in mustard, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon water, and capers. Cook until reduced slightly, about 1 minute. Stir in tarragon; spoon over vegetables. Serve, with more mustard.

ROASTED GAME HENS WITH CARAMELIZED ROOT VEGETABLES AND DRIED-CURRANT SAUCE

Steps:

• For caramelized root vegetables:
• Melt butter with oil in very large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 5 minutes. Add rutabagas and next 4 ingredients; sauté until vegetables are caramelized and tender, stirring often, about 30 minutes. Stir in chestnuts, garlic, and thyme; sauté 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring frequently, until heated through before serving.
• For hens:
• Mix 1/4 cup thyme, shallots, oil, orange peel, garlic, and crushed juniper berries in small bowl for marinade. Rub marinade all over hens. Place hens in large roasting pan; cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Pour 1 1/2 cups broth into roasting pan with hens. Sprinkle hens with salt and pepper. Cover pan tightly with foil. Roast until hens are cooked through and juices run clear when thighs are pierced with fork, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Preheat broiler.
• Pour pan juices from hens into small saucepan; add dried currants and remaining 1 tablespoon thyme. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 5 minutes (sauce will be thin). Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, broil hens until lightly browned, watching closely to avoid burning, about 4 minutes.
• Place 1 hen half on each plate. Divide caramelized vegetables among plates. Spoon sauce over hens and serve.