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Roasted Cornish Hens

Roasted Cornish Hens: A Simple Yet Elegant Dinner Delight

This Roasted Cornish Hens recipe is an easy and gluten-free main course that impresses guests with tender meat and crispy skin.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 hens
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Hens
  • 2 hens Cornish Hens patted dry
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil or melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon Salt to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper or white pepper
For the Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika or chili powder
  • 3 cloves Minced Garlic fresh preferred
  • 2 tablespoons Chopped Rosemary or dried if preferred
For Garnish
  • 1 medium Lemon sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Butter optional for enhanced flavor

Equipment

  • roasting rack
  • shallow roasting pan
  • Meat thermometer

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C). Pat the Cornish hens dry with paper towels, remove giblets, and trim excess fat.
Seasoning
  1. Drizzle olive oil over the hens and coat evenly. Sprinkle salt, black pepper, paprika, minced garlic, and chopped rosemary over the skin.
  2. Tuck lemon slices and sprigs of rosemary inside each hen's cavity.
Roasting
  1. Place the seasoned Cornish hens breast-side up on a roasting rack in a shallow pan. Dot with butter and roast for 45-55 minutes, basting every 15 minutes.
Resting
  1. Remove the hens from the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes, loosely covered with foil.
Serving
  1. Garnish with additional rosemary and lemon juice before serving. Arrange on a platter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1henCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 30gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 700mgPotassium: 400mgVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Ensure the Cornish hens are dry before seasoning for crispy skin. Experiment with different herbs for flavor variations.

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