Did You Know Cornish Game Hens Are Young Chickens?
Grilled or roasted Cornish game hens are perfect for those looking to enjoy a tender, flavorful meal with a touch of elegance. These small, succulent birds offer a deliciously moist texture, making them an excellent alternative to chicken for any occasion.
Whether cooked on the grill for a smoky char or roasted in the oven for a crispy skin, Cornish game hens are versatile and easy to prepare. Their small size makes them ideal for individual servings, perfect for a dinner party or a cozy meal for two.
The flavor profile of Cornish game hens pairs beautifully with various herbs, spices, and marinades, which can be tailored to suit personal tastes. This recipe will walk you through how to achieve the perfect balance of flavor and texture, ensuring your Cornish game hens are cooked to perfection every time. So, fire up the grill or preheat the oven and get ready to create a dish that will impress your family and guests alike.
Cornish Game Hens
Cornish game hens are a breed of poultry known for their small size, tender meat, and flavorful taste. Despite their name, they are not a distinct species of “game” bird but rather a hybrid breed of chicken, specifically the Cornish breed crossed with a White Plymouth Rock chicken. This cross results in a compact bird, with a plump, meaty breast and delicate skin.
Typically, Cornish game hens weigh around 1 to 2 pounds, making them ideal for individual servings. Their tender meat is slightly richer than that of regular chicken, and their small size allows for even cooking, whether they are roasted, grilled, or prepared in other ways. Due to their elegant appearance and versatility in cooking, Cornish game hens are a popular choice for festive meals, dinner parties, and special occasions.
Although they are often cooked whole, Cornish game hens can also be spiced, marinated, or stuffed with various ingredients to enhance their flavor. Seasonings such as rosemary, garlic, lemon, and thyme are often used to complement their mild yet flavorful meat.
Grilled or Roasted Cornish Game Hens
Ingredients
- 3 Cornish game hens about 1¼ to 1¾ lbs each
- 6 shallots slice thinly
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bunch fresh parsley stemmed
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional in my opinion
For the vinaigrette
- 1 large red bell pepper diced finely
- 1 medium English cucumber finely diced (these are the long skinny cucumbers)
- 1 bunch scallions thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons fresh ginger minced
- 2 cups Champagne vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup walnut oil
For the Garnish
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 bunch red grapes
Instructions
Prep the Cornish Game Hens
- You need to remove the backbone from the hens and the easiest way to do this is with kitchen shears. Once the backbones are removed, lay them flat with the skin side up.
- Mix the shallots, garlic, parsley and red pepper flakes (optional) in a small bowl. Use your fingers to loosen the skin from the meat, then tuck the shallot/garlic mixture under the skin.
Prepare the Vinaigrette
- Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. You can make this ahead of time and let the flavors meld together. If you refrigerate the vinaigrette, be sure to remove it from the fridge at least 15 minutes before planning to use it.
Prepare the Garnish
- Heat a medium sized skillet over medium-high heat, add oil, and grapes. Sauté grapes for 5 minutes until their skin starts to blister. Shake the pan for even cooking.
Grill/Roast the Cornish Game Hens
- I started out by grilling the game hens, but ran out of propane and didn’t want to take the time to start a charcoal fire. So, I preheated the oven to 350° F and finished the hens there.
- If you do grill the hens, I would use the 2 - Zone method where I start the birds on a hot part of the grill and finish on a cooler area of the grill with the lid down. Basically, you are searing the hens on the high heat and alternately roasting them on cooler part of the grill.
- Begin by laying the hens skin-side-down on the hot part of the grill and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the game hens 90 degrees and cook for another 2 minutes to create the attractive hash marks we all love so much.
- Turn the hens over but place them on the cooler part of the grill set to low. Cover and cook until a meat thermometer reads 170° F. Depending on your grill and the size of the birds, this should take about 20 minutes.
- Remove the Cornish game hens and set aside to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. I like to cover them with aluminum foil with some holes poked through.
Plating
- Spoon a generous amount of the vinaigrette onto a plate. The original recipe says to serve one whole game hen per person, but I cut mine in half for both the kids and the adults and found it to be plenty—I would rather go back for more than leave half a hen on the plate.
- Top each hen with a few of the grapes and serve with whatever sides you’ve decided.
