Spicy Cornish Hen Polletto Alla Diavola Food

SPICY MAPLE CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Pat the game hens dry and place on the prepared rack. Mix the butter, 1/3 cup maple syrup and 2 tablespoons brown sugar with the salt and all the spices in a bowl. Rub the birds with the butter mixture, making sure it gets in all the cavities and under the skin. Reserve any unused butter for later. Sprinkle the hens with a little extra salt and paprika.
• Roast for 30 minutes, then baste with the juices at the bottom of the baking sheet, or a little of the remaining butter. Return to the oven and roast until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh (do not touch bone) registers 165 degrees F, another 15 to 30 minutes more. Remove the hens to a cutting board or serving tray to rest and remove the rack. Pour the dry sherry into the hot baking sheet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits; add a little of the stock if necessary. Transfer the sherry mixture to a small saucepan and add any remaining butter. Melt over medium heat. Meanwhile, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons chicken stock in a small bowl to make a slurry. Add the slurry and the remaining stock to the saucepan along with the remaining 1/3 cup syrup and remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Serve the game hens with the sweet and spicy gravy.

POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA (SPLIT CHICKEN WITH HOT MUSTARD MARINADE)

Steps:

• Combine the marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
• Let stand for a few min, then adjust to taste.
• To flatten the chicken, first rinse the chicken and pat dry.
• With poultry/kitchen shears or a chef's knife, cut through the ribs and pelvic bones where they join the backbone.
• Remove the backbone and any traces jof kidneys left on the chicken.
• Turn the bird breast side down.
• Cut a notch in the breastbone at the wishbone end, and spread the ribcage apart.
• Turn the bird over again, and lean on it with the heel of your hand to flatten it.
• Tuck the wing tips under the rest of the wings, or remove and save for stock or buffalo wings.
• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and rub the marinade all over the meat and skin.
• Marinate for 30 min or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Heat grill to medium high.
• Start the chicken cooking on the skin side, turn after 10 min, and continue cooking on the bone side until juices run clear when the meat is pierced near the bone. Total cooking time is 25-35 minute.
• Baste frequently with the remaining marinade while cooking, but NOT during the last 10 minute.

POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA

Steps:

• Add half a chilli, 1 clove of garlic, a teaspoon of herbs and a pinch of paprika ito a bowl and roughly mash together, coat the chicken in this and wrap in foil. Place this in the oven at 200degrees in a fan oven and cook for 30 minutes
• Add the oil to a saucepan and fry the onions on a high heat for around 3 minutes.
• Add the the green peppers, chillies,tomatoes, mushrooms and 1 clove garlic and adjust to a medium heat. Cook this for 4 minutes.
• Add half the tin if tomatoes and a dash of olive oil and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Then add the extra garlic, herbs and jalepenos and give it a stir
• Use a wooden spoon to mash the larger chunks of tomatoes, both tinned and fresh. Crumble over half the stock cube and stir in the leftover tinned tomatoes and the wine. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add a squeeze of lemon and the tomato purée. Continue to cook until the chicken is ready. Stirring occasionally.
• After 30 minutes take the chicken out and open up the foil, return to the oven for 10 minutes turning the heat up to full. Serve with the sauce poured generously over the chicken.

SPICY CHICKEN WITH OLIVES (POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA CON OLIVE)

Steps:

• Position rack in upper third of oven; heat to 425°F Lightly grease 1 large roasting pan or 2 baking dishes with oil. Open chickens and put them, skin-side up, into pan.
• In a small bowl, mix together mustard, black pepper, marjoram or oregano or sage, rosemary and red pepper flakes. Spread mustard mixture over chickens, distributing mixture evenly; season with salt. Drizzle each chicken with 1 teaspoon oil.
• Bake chickens for 20 minutes. Sprinkle olives over chicken, add wine to pan and continue baking until skin is golden and chicken is cooked through, about 30 to 35 minutes more.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack, tent with tin foil and let chickens rest for 5 minutes, spooning juices over the top. Serve with juices.