Roasted Cornish Hen
Happy February everyone!! It has been a long month since I sat down and wrote about our nightly dinners. We have had plenty of dinners, just time has not been in my favor and with each passing day, another day went by that I did not write. I really miss it. Last night dinner was easy and fast. Cornish hens are one of my favorite go-to meals. Easy to prepare, fast to cook in the oven, but the best part, one Cornish hen split in half, is a perfect one-person serving. We had Israeli couscous. Israeli couscous is also known as Pearl Couscous is made with wheat flour and toasted in special ovens. The grains are much larger than the regular couscous, and have a bit of a chewy texture. Steamed broccoli, vegetable of choice of my son. Bon Appetit!! Giangi
Happy February everyone!! It has been a long month since I sat down and wrote about our nightly dinners. We have had plenty of dinners, just time has not been in my favor and with each passing day, another day went by that I did not write. I really miss it. Last night dinner was easy and fast. Cornish hens are one of my favorite go-to meals. Easy to prepare, fast to cook in the oven, but the best part, one Cornish hen split in half, is a perfect one-person serving. We had Israeli couscous. Israeli couscous is also known as Pearl Couscous is made with wheat flour and toasted in special ovens. The grains are much larger than the regular couscous, and have a bit of a chewy texture. Steamed broccoli, vegetable of choice of my son. Bon Appetit!! Giangi
- Carbohydrate 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0.0703124998875 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 0 g
- Saturated Fat 0.009708749984466 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (0g)
- Sodium 18.4215494791644 mg
- Sugar 0 g
- Trans Fat 0.00190406249695351 g
- Calories 1 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat the oven at 375°.
- Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
- Place the cleaned and cut in half Cornish hen over it.
- Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and Herbs de Province.
- Place in the hot oven for 45 minutes, poking the meat once in a while to make sure all the juices are running.
When oven space and roasting time are severely limited, whole poultry demands too much bandwidth. Splitting Cornish hens in half solves this constraint by maximizing surface area, allowing the birds to cook through in just 45 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Historically bred as a cross between wild ducks and domestic chickens, these small birds offer individual portions that roast much faster than standard broilers.
- Line the cookie sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil to catch rendering fat and simplify cleanup.
- Rub olive oil thoroughly under the skin to help the Herbes de Provence adhere and promote browning.
- Monitor doneness by piercing the thickest part of the thigh; clear juices indicate proper doneness.
- Pair the finished poultry with chewy toasted pearl couscous and steamed brassicas to balance the rich meat.
Properly executed, high-heat roasting transforms lean poultry into a succulent main course without requiring complex brines. Resting the split halves for five minutes before serving lets internal juices redistribute evenly.
