Cornish Hens With Fresh Figs Recipes

Steps:

• In a heavy ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven, combine the onions with 3 tablespoons of the honey, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn a deep caramel color, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, wash and dry the hens.
• In a small bowl, mix the oil with the saffron, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Coat the hens inside and out with the mixture and set them on top of the onions.
• Still over medium heat, cover, and cook until the hens are tender and the juices run clear, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Remove the hens from the pan and cut them in half, if desired.
• Return to the pan and surround with the figs.
• Drizzle the dish with the remaining 3 tablespoons honey.
• Broil, watching carefully, until the breasts turn brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F with rack in upper third.
• Cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-low heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Add garlic to skillet and cook, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels with bacon.
• Pat hens dry and season with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat fat in skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke. Brown 4 hen halves, skin side down, about 6 minutes. Transfer, skin side up, to a large 4-sided sheet pan. Brown remaining hens, transferring to sheet pan. Reserve skillet.
• Scatter thyme and figs over hens, then roast until hens are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, deglaze skillet with lemon juice by simmering, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 30 seconds. Pour over roast hens. Scatter bacon and garlic over hens.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
• Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place hens in a roasting pan, breast sides up. Place 2 thyme sprigs and 1 lemon half in cavity of each hen. Loosen skin from breast, and place remaining thyme and the parsley underneath. Squeeze remaining lemon halves over hens. Rub butter all over hens. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Roast hens, rotating pan halfway through, until skin turns golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees, 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise. Garnish with thyme sprigs, and serve with lemon wedges.

Steps:

• In a heavy ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven, combine the onions with 3 tablespoons of the honey, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn a deep caramel color, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, wash and dry the hens. In a small bowl, mix the oil with the saffron, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Coat the hens inside and out with the mixture and set them on top of the onions. Still over medium heat, cover, and cook until the hens are tender and the juices run clear, 45 to 50 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Remove the hens from the pan and cut them in half, if desired. Return to the pan and surround with the figs. Drizzle the dish with the remaining 3 tablespoons honey. Broil, watching carefully, until the breasts turn brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve. This recipe yields 4 servings.

Steps:

• Hens:.
• Preheat an oven to 400°F
• Rinse the birds and pat dry.
• Rub inside and out with the salt and pepper, then with the sage/thyme and rosemary.
• Discard the herbs or, if you prefer, leave some of them clinging to the skin or tucked under the skin. (This is my preference).
• Stuffing:.
• Place half of the bread chunks in a large bowl mixed with the dried figs and apricots, rosemary, thyme, walnuts, salt and pepper and set aside.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the boiling water and pour the mixture over the stuffing mixture, turning it to soak all the pieces, about 10 minutes.
• Mix stuffing well with your hands, forming a bit of a 'paste'.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the paste and set aside.
• Add the remainder of the bread chunks to the main stuffing mixture and stir lightly to incorporate.
• Spoon 1/4 to 1/3 cup stuffing into the cavity of each bird. Do not pack the cavities too full.
• Gently slip your fingers between the skin and the meat of the breast to make a pocket, and tuck some of the 'paste' stuffing under the skin and gently massage the breast of the bird to even it out.
• Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wings under the breasts.
• Place the birds, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 35 minutes.
• Glaze:.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the jam and vinegar and heat, stirring occasionally, until a syrup forms, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the birds from the oven and, using a pastry brush, coat them with the glaze.
• Return the birds to the oven and roast until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 - 30 minutes more.
• Remove the birds from the oven, garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve. Serves 4.