Cornish Game Hens With Madeira And Cream Sauce Recipes

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH MADEIRA AND CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove broiler pan and put chicken stock in it.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Cut hens into halves and season with salt and pepper. Brush with butter and sprinkle with oil and place in broiler about 6 inches from heat for 35-30 minutes; turning and basting every 10 minutes.
• The hens will be done when juices run clear or yellow.
• Remove to a warm serving dish, cover with foil and keep in the turned off oven while finishing the sauce.
• Deglaze the broiler pan with the madeira wine, scraping bottom of pan with a fork to gather all sediment.
• Set pan over heat and warm and stir in cream by spoonfuls. Simmer 3 minutes and taste. Add salt and pepper.
• Use cornstarch, if you with to thicken, by diluting with 1-2 tablespoons cold water.
• Take hens out of oven and serve with the sauce drizzled over it.

CONTEST-WINNING ORANGE-GLAZED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to at 350°. Tie legs of each hen together; turn wing tips under backs. Place on a greased rack in a roasting pan. Brush with butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour., Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 15 minutes. Spoon over hens. Bake until a thermometer reads 170°, about 15 minutes longer.

GAME HENS WITH MADEIRA AND WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring 1 cup chicken stock to simmer in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add mushrooms; soak 30 minutes. Drain mushrooms, reserving mushrooms and liquid separately.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 400°F. Rub 1 tablespoon butter over outside of each game hen. Place in roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced, about 55 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste; stir 2 minutes. Pour in reserved mushroom liquid, leaving any sediment at bottom of bowl. Add beef stock, Madeira, thyme sprigs and 1 cup chicken stock. Simmer until reduced to thin sauce consistency, about 25 minutes. Stir in reserved mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve hens with mushroom sauce.

CRISPY FRIED CORNISH GAME HENS (TAPAKA)

Steps:

• With a meat cleaver, poultry shears, or a VERY sharp knife, split open the breast of the Cornish Hen. Carefully remove the breastbone. Cover the hen with waxed paper and pound the flat side of the cleaver or a meat tenderizer to flatten.
• Combine the garlic, lemon juice, paprika, and about 1/4 teaspoon salt. Rub over the hen and refrigerate, covered for at least two hours or as long as overnight.
• Heat the clarified butter in a heavy cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
• Brush the garlic off the hen, then place the hen in the skillet, skin side down. Cover the hen directly with something flat (such as an ovenproof plate) and place a heavy object (such as a brick, a smaller iron skillet, or a pan filled with water) on top so the hen is firmly pressed down.
• Cook until the skin is deep golden brown and crispy, about 20 minutes. Turn the bird, re-weight, and cook on the other side for about 15 minutes. Pierce a thigh with a skewer. the hen is ready when the juices run clear.
• Serve on a bed of lettuce, garnished with the fresh vegetables, and accompanied with the Sour Plum Sauce on the side.
• For the Sour Plum Sauce:.
• In a large nonreactive saucepan, combine the prunes and enough cold water to barely cover. bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the prunes are soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Drain the prunes, then pit and put them through a food mill. Return the prunes to the saucepan. Add the cilantro, garlic, coriander seeds, fenugreek, red pepper flakes to taste, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and salt. bring to a boil and heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Yaste and add more lemon juice, if desired.
• Cool the sauce to room temperature and transfer to a sterilized 1 quart jar. Top with the oil. seal. and refrigerate. The sauce should stand for at least 4 to 6 hours before serving. The sauce will keep for up to two months in the refrigerator. This makes about 3 cups.

TASTY TARRAGON CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Make basting sauce by melting butter in small sauce pan and stirring in wine (or broth) and tarrgon.
• Sprinkle inside of each hen with salt, pepper, tarragon, and garlic.
• Lightly coat outside of hen with olive (or other) oil.
• Liberally sprinkle outside of hen with garlic salt.
• Tie hen legs together if possible (I've also made these without doing this step).
• Place hens in oven.
• Let hens cook about 15 minutes before starting to use the basting sauce. After each basting, I will occasionally sprinkle more garlic salt over the hens.
• Continue to baste hens every 15 minutes or so until done. If hen wings or top start to darken too much, cover those areas with foil.
• When hens have finished cooking, remove to serving platter.
• optional - I place the strained drippings in a bowl (skimming off some of the butter) and use this as a 'gravy' for the hens and any suitable rice/potato dish that may accompany them.
• Use your meat thermometer to determine doneness as it varies according to hen weight.