How to Roast Cornish Hens

Contributor

By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(31 Ratings)

Cornish game hens make a nice meal any time of year; even though they seem fancy, they're easy enough to roast. Try serving with your favorite recipe for cornbread stuffing, or with mashed potatoes. Serves four.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Chef's Knives
Baking Pans
Chef's Knives
Cutting Boards
Mixing Bowls
Mixing bowls
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb. split Cornish game hens
2 tsp. cooking oil
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. ground cumin

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2

Halve Cornish hens lengthwise using a long heavy knife or kitchen shears.
Step 3

Cut through the breast bone, just off the center.
Step 4

Cut through the center of the backbone.
Step 5

Rinse hens and pat dry.
Step 6

Twist wing tips under back and place hen halves, cut-sides down, in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.
Step 7

Combine cooking oil, salt, paprika and cumin. Brush over hens.
Step 8

Bake hens one hour or until tender and no longer pink.
Step 9

Serve with potatoes or a stuffing of your choice, one hen-half to a serving.

Tips & Warnings

For a more dramatic presentation and hungry guests, serve one hen per person and roast them whole.
You can really roast the hens any way you might roast chicken: with fresh lemon juice squeezed over and a few sprigs of rosemary, for example, or with a simple glaze of butter, apricot jam, and white wine, or anything you like.

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