Ingredients
- 2 Cornish hens, halved lengthwise (Approx 1 ½ – 2 lbs ea)
- salt
- black pepper
- 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 sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Place them cut sides down in 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 (about 3-4 tablespoons). Brush glaze onto the almost-cooked hens, and roast 5 minutes more. Pour remaining ½ cup stock into the saucepan, swirling to dissolve any remaining glaze, and set aside.
- Transfer hens to a serving dish and let stand, loosely covered with foil, for 5 minutes. Place the sheet pan or skillet from the cooked hens over a burner on your stove, then add reserved liquid from saucepan and deglaze the pan by boiling over moderate heat, scraping up brown bits with a wooden spoon, until reduced slightly.
- Season the juices in the pan with salt and pepper and pour over hens.
Notes
Makes 2 servings
Nutrition Facts
Cornish Hens with Sweet Vermouth and Garlic
Amount per Serving
Calories
1055
% Daily Value*
Fat
65
g
100
%
Saturated Fat
18
g
113
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
13
g
Monounsaturated Fat
28
g
Cholesterol
458
mg
153
%
Sodium
448
mg
19
%
Potassium
1236
mg
35
%
Carbohydrates
12
g
4
%
Fiber
0.5
g
2
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
81
g
162
%
Vitamin A
585
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
77
mg
8
%
Iron
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.