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Spiced Roasted Cornish Hen w/ Brown Rice Pilaf

Posted By Kiran On In Celebration,Entree,Sides,Thanksgiving | Comments Disabled

Spiced Roasted Cornish Hen

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole cornish hen, skin on!
  • 3 tbsp ghee
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  • 1 medium red onion, quartered
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 2 carrots, chopped at angle
Spice mix
  • 1 tbsp ginger paste
  • 1.5 tbsp salt
  • 1/2 tbsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp red chili powder (reduce if prefer less spicy)
  • 1/2 tbsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tbsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tbsp black cardamom powder
  • 1/2 tbsp star anise, crushed/powdered
  • 1/2 tbsp cinnamon powder
  • 1/2 tbsp turmeric powder
Garnish
  • 1 sprig thyme
  • a few pieces of rosemary
  • a few pieces of whole black pepper
Directions:
  1. Wash and thoroughly pat dry the cornish hen. Empty the insides and place it on a baking tray.
  2. In a bowl, add spice mix ingredients and mix to incorporate.
  3. Salt and pepper hen under its skin (carefully not to tear it apart) to impart seasonings. This is crucial to ensure the meat doesn’t end up tasting bland.
  4. Using a pastry brush, spread ghee all over the hen and it’s crevices including the cavity.
  5. Rub spice mix blend generously on every nook and cranny of the hen, that includes the cavity.
  6. Shove 2 lemon wedges, 2 red onion wedges, a sprig of thyme and fresh rosemary into the cavity.
  7. Tuck each wing underneath hen to allow even roasting and avoid burning.
  8. Using a kitchen twine, cross drumsticks together and tie a knot to secure its cavity as close as possible.
  9. Place hen over a rack in a roasting pan. Allow to marinade for a minimum of 1 hour.
  10. Set oven on 375F, surround hen with carrots, remaining onion wedges & sprinkle on some fresh thyme and rosemary buds.
  11. Bake hen for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165F.
  12. Drizzle pan juices (not grease!) over hen and allow meat to rest before carving. Garnish with a sprig of thyme, a few rosemary buds, some whole black pepper & lemon wedges.

Brown Rice Pilaf

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of cooked brown rice
  • 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
  • 1 tsp toasted cumin powder
  • 2 roasted red onion wedges, chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • salt + pepper to taste
  • fresh thyme for garnish
Directions:
  1. Using 2 roasted red onions from cornish hen roasting pan, chop and mix all brown rice pilaf ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Serve room temperature garnish with fresh thyme.

 

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Dancing Turkey

What do you enjoy sinking your teeth into? Turkey or chicken? Or both?