Thai Curried Game Hens Recipes

Steps:

• heat 1 T oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. add curry paste and tomato paste and stir until fragrant, about 3 minutes. add coconut milk, broth, mushrooms, kaffir limes leaves, fish sauce, and brown sugar; bring to simmer. remove from heat. add cherry tomatoes. season sauce with salt and pepper.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees F. heat 2 T oil in large nonstick skiller over high heat. sprinkle hens with salt and pepper. add hens to skiller and cook until browned, about 4 minutes per side. transfer hens to 13x9 inch pyrex. pour sauce over. bake uncovered until hens are cooked through, about 35 minute transfer hens to shallow serving bowl; tent with foil. skim fat from sauce. pour sauce over hens. garnich with basil and chilies, if desired.

Steps:

• Cook shallots in oil in a wide 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Add curry paste and cook, mashing paste to combine with oil and stirring constantly, 3 minutes (paste will begin sticking to bottom of pot). Add coconut milk, brown sugar, and salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 3 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in fish sauce and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Reserve 1 1/2 cups curry sauce (for serving) in a bowl and chill, covered.
• Trim and discard any excess fat from hens (to prevent flare-ups on grill), then rinse and pat dry. Coat hens well with remaining curry sauce in a large bowl, then divide hens between 2 large sealable plastic bags and seal bags, pressing out excess air. Marinate hens, chilled, at least 12 and up to 24 hours.
• Let hens stand at room temperature 30 minutes before grilling.
• Prepare grill for cooking over medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas). (If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. When Charcoal turns grayish white (about 15 minutes from lighting), hold your hand 5 inches above grill rack to determine heat for charcoal as follows: Hot: When you can hold your hand there for 1 to 2 seconds; Medium-hot: 3 to 4 seconds; Low: 5 to 6 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then, if necessary, reduce to heat specified in recipe.)
• Remove hens from marinade, shaking off excess, and transfer to a large platter. Discard marinade. Season hens with salt, then grill, starting with skin sides down, covered only if using a gas grill, on lightly oiled grill rack, turning occasionally to prevent overbrowning, until cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes total.
• Heat reserved curry sauce in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until hot. Serve hens with curry sauce.