Cornish Game Hens With Herbs

Cornish Game Hens With Herbs

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
  • Servings: 8

    • About This Recipe

    “Very nice dinner party for 8, yummy with rice pilaf and a spinach salad.”

    Ingredients

  • 16cloves, garlic, peeled
  • 16lemon wedges
  • 8smallCornish hens, about 1 lb. each
  • 2tablespoonsolive oil
  • 3garlic cloves, smashed
  • 2tablespoonschopped fresh rosemary or 1teaspoondried rosemary
  • 2tablespoonschopped fresh sage or 1teaspoondried sage
  • 2tablespoonschopped fresh tarragon or 1teaspoondried tarragon
  • 2tablespoonschopped fresh thyme or 1teaspoondried thyme
  • 1teaspoonsalt
  • 1/2 teaspoonpepper
  • 2cupsfat-free low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2tablespoonssoy sauce, low sodium
  • 2tablespoonsWorcestershire sauce
  • 2tablespoonsall-purpose flour
  • 1tablespoonsoft non-hydrogenated margarine

    • Directions

  • Place 2 whole garlic cloves and 2 lemon wedges in each hen.
  • In a small bowl, combine oil,smashed garlic, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, salt and pepper.
  • Gently separate skin from breast and thigh of each hen and rub meat with herb mixture.
  • Rub any extra over skin.
  • Arrange birds on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
  • Roast birds in a preheated 400°F oven for 45 minutes or until well browned and cooked through.
  • Baste occasionally.
  • Place birds on a platter and transfer pan juices to measuring cup.
  • To make sauce, remove fat from pan juices.
  • Place juices in a saucepan with stock, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil.
  • Cook a few minutes.
  • In a small bowl, combine flour and margarine.
  • Stir into sauce and cook until just slightly thickened.
  • Adjust seasonings.
  • Serve hens with sauce on the side.

    • Reviews

  • “Everyone raved over the flavor of the hens – loved them.There were only 4 of us and the hens were large so I cut them in half before cooking them and I put the lemon wedges and cloves of garlic under each half.The herb mixture under the skin gives the hen a wonderfull flavor, not to mentionthe great aroma in the house.I served them with Fennel Gratin, Goatcheese & Black OliveMashed Potatoes, Roasted carrots & Brussels Sproats and had Vegetable Stuffing for Cornish Hens as a side dish.No one complained! Thanks Dorothy for yet another keeper”

  • “Oh Dorothy, how impressive. I made these lovely cornish hens for dinner with my in-laws. I wanted something that would dazzle. This was is. A definite show-stopper. The herb rub was outstanding. I followed your directions exactly and the birds were so tasty and juicy. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! My in-laws think I can cook LOL!!”

  • “”Hey, this tastes like Boston Market Chicken.” (Comment from my 10 year old daughter) “This really tastes good.” (Comment from DH) “Mom, did this chicken just hatch?” (Comment from 7 year old son, give him a break, this is his first taste of game hen!) We liked the recipe because it produced a juicey, delicious meal. I cut up new potatoes, tossed them with the same seasonings and added them to the hens-delicious!”

  • “My dinner guests kept repeating – this is so good, this is so good, this so good! I love cooking with fresh herbs and the combination of rosemary, sage, thyme and tarragon combined with garlic was sensational. I put the whole herbs, garlic and oil in the processor instead of chopping. I had the market split them in half and squeezed fresh lemon over the hens and in the sauce. This is so easy, I won’t wait for a dinner party to make it again. Thanks, Dorothy!”

  • “Wow – this was a very flavorful, excellent recipe for cornish hens – and so easy!Thanks for sharing.I served it with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and applesauce for the ultimate comfort food dinner.It was fantastic.”

  • “Absolutely awesome! I couldn’t find small enough hens so I used larger ones and they just cooked a little longer. The jus-like gravy with this is scrumptious! The only thing I would change is to make a double batch next time! My husband is already begging me to make this again. Yum!”

  • “The combination of herbs used in this dish was great.I’m a novice cook, and this was a relatively easy recipe.It was a bit time consuming to separate the skin from the chicken and season beneath it, but it was worth the effort.I highly recommend this recipe.”

  • “I made these tonight for dinner.I only made 5 hens because 8 was too many.I did however keep the herbs at the 8 hen level.I used fresh herbs except for tarragon which I used dried.I made this with rice, asparagus and salad.Excellent recipe.I loved the flavor combinations.The sauce this makes is wonderful!!!!Karen”

  • “Absolutely wonderful!Made these for our anniversary and DH and I thought the gravy was really gooda!Loved the lemon with the soy/worchestershire.Will be making this again.Thank you for sharing!”

  • “These little cornish hens were adorable! Mighty tasty too.Made a garlic/sharp cheddar mash to go with. Yum!”

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