Cornish Game Hens With Apricot Rice Stuffing Recipes

APRICOT-GLAZED CORNISH HENS FOR TWO

Steps:

• Combine the salt and cayenne. Rub a third of the mixture inside hens. Brush 1 tablespoon butter over hens; sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Place on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the preserves, honey, onion, nutmeg and remaining butter. Cook and stir until preserves are melted. Brush over hens. Bake 35-40 minutes longer or until golden brown and a thermometer reads 180°. Cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

WILD RICE STUFFED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 5 cups water, bouillon and salt to a boil. Add wild rice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add long grain rice; cover and simmer 25-30 minutes longer or until rice is tender and water is absorbed., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the sausage, celery and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in rice mixture. Spoon about 3/4 cup stuffing into each hen. , Place remaining stuffing in a greased 2-qt. baking dish; cover and set aside. Place hens breast side up on a rack in shallow baking pan; tie drumsticks together. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 minutes., In a small saucepan, bring preserves and remaining water to a boil. Pour over hens. Bake 25-35 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180° for hens and 165° for stuffing, basting occasionally. Place baking dish of stuffing in the oven for the last 35-40 minutes of hens' baking time.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the almonds, onion, and uncooked wild rice. Saute 5 to 10 minutes. Mix in the water, chicken bouillon cube, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 45 minutes until rice is tender and easily fluffed with a fork.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Season the Cornish game hens inside and out with salt, and stuff with the rice mixture. Place the hens breast side up on a rack in a baking pan. Brush with 1/4 cup melted butter.
• Cover the baking pan, and cook the hens 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Uncover, and continue cooking 1 hour, or until the hens are no longer pink and the juices run clear.

APRICOT GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• For glaze: Put 1/4 cup water, apricot preserve and cinnamon in a microwave safe bowl.
• Microwave on high about 20 seconds.
• Stir to blend.
• If not blending well, microwave another 10 seconds.
• Stir again till smooth.
• For rice: Sauté garlic, celery, onion, apricots in oil about 5 minutes.
• Add brown rice; sauté another 3 minutes.
• Add 2 cups chicken broth and 3-4 tablespoons of glaze sauce.
• Bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to a low simmer.
• Simmer covered 10-15 minutes.
• Add pilaf rice.
• Stir, cover and simmer 15-25 minutes or longer until liquid is absorbed.
• Allow to cool. (This could be done earlier in the day if you see fit).
• For Hens: Preheat oven to 400°F; line a 13 x 9 pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray.
• Wash hens, remove giblets and pat dry.
• Sprinkle with garlic powder in and out of hens.
• Stuff with rice mixture.
• Brush with glaze mixture.
• To prevent over browning make a foil tent.
• Crease a sheet of foil crosswise through the center to form a tent leave 1-2 inches between top of hens so heat can circulate crimp on sides.
• Bake 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and brush with glaze.
• Bake uncovered until hens are tender and juices run clear, about 40-45 minutes, basting about every 10-15 minutes until glaze is used up.
• 2-4 servings depending on appetite.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT-FIG STUFFING

Steps:

• Hens:.
• Preheat an oven to 400°F
• Rinse the birds and pat dry.
• Rub inside and out with the salt and pepper, then with the sage/thyme and rosemary.
• Discard the herbs or, if you prefer, leave some of them clinging to the skin or tucked under the skin. (This is my preference).
• Stuffing:.
• Place half of the bread chunks in a large bowl mixed with the dried figs and apricots, rosemary, thyme, walnuts, salt and pepper and set aside.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the boiling water and pour the mixture over the stuffing mixture, turning it to soak all the pieces, about 10 minutes.
• Mix stuffing well with your hands, forming a bit of a 'paste'.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the paste and set aside.
• Add the remainder of the bread chunks to the main stuffing mixture and stir lightly to incorporate.
• Spoon 1/4 to 1/3 cup stuffing into the cavity of each bird. Do not pack the cavities too full.
• Gently slip your fingers between the skin and the meat of the breast to make a pocket, and tuck some of the 'paste' stuffing under the skin and gently massage the breast of the bird to even it out.
• Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wings under the breasts.
• Place the birds, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 35 minutes.
• Glaze:.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the jam and vinegar and heat, stirring occasionally, until a syrup forms, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the birds from the oven and, using a pastry brush, coat them with the glaze.
• Return the birds to the oven and roast until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 - 30 minutes more.
• Remove the birds from the oven, garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve. Serves 4.

APRICOT-GLAZED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a cookie sheet generously with cooking spray.
• Combine apricot preserves, Sriracha, Worcestershire, and butter in a small pot and melt over medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent from sticking.
• Clean hens and pat dry with paper towels. Coat outsides and insides with oil. Season with mango-habanero seasoning; insert sprigs of basil inside of the hens.
• Place hens on the prepared cookie sheet and cover with foil.
• Cook in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and baste with apricot glaze. Put back in the oven and cook until no longer pink in the centers, about 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).