Cornish Hens with Sweet Vermouth and Garlic

American, Dinner

 

Cornish Hens with Sweet Vermouth and Garlic
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Hen
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 558kcal
Author: Chef Bill Collins

Ingredients

  • 2 Cornish hens, halved lengthwise (Approx 1 ½ – 2 lbs ea)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • paprika
  • 1 cup sweet (red) vermouth
  • 6 large garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
  • 4 fresh thyme sprigs, or 2 teaspoons if using dry
  • 1 cup chicken stock

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.  
  • Pat the hens dry, and rub them with the olive oil. Sprinkle them with salt, pepper, and paprika. Place them cut-sides down on a sheet pan or large skillet.  Roast until they’re almost cooked through, around 160° internal temperature, for approximately 30 minutes
  • While the hens are roasting, simmer vermouth, garlic, thyme, and ½ cup stock, uncovered, in a saucepan until garlic is soft, about 15 minutes. Discard the thyme sprig, if using fresh. Mash garlic into sauce with a fork and simmer until reduced to a glaze, around ¼ cup. Brush the glaze onto the almost-cooked hens, and save the pan. Roast for 5 minutes more, or until the hens are cooked through, to 165°. Pour remaining ½ cup stock into the saucepan, swirling to dissolve any remaining glaze, and set aside
  • Transfer the hens to a serving dish and let stand, loosely covered with foil, for 5 minutes. Carefully place the sheet pan or skillet from the cooked hens over a burner, set to high, on your stove. When the juices in the pan start to sizzle, carefully hold the pan with an oven mitt or potholder. Add the reserved liquid from the saucepan. With a wooden spoon, scrape up the bits from the pan (this is called "deglazing"). When you've removed and scraped up as much as you can, carefully put this into a serving bowl, and season to taste with salt and pepper
  • Pour the sauce over the hens on the serving platter, or from the bowl
  • Serve with rice or roasted potatoes, and your favorite green vegetable

Notes

Makes 2 servings
Nutrition Facts
Cornish Hens with Sweet Vermouth and Garlic
Serving Size
 
4 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
558
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
36
g
55
%
Saturated Fat
 
9
g
56
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
7
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
17
g
Cholesterol
 
229
mg
76
%
Sodium
 
224
mg
10
%
Potassium
 
618
mg
18
%
Carbohydrates
 
6
g
2
%
Fiber
 
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
40
g
80
%
Vitamin A
 
293
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
39
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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