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Roasted Cornish Hens with Black-Olive Butter

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Roasted Cornish Hens with Black-Olive Butter

Roasted Cornish Hens with Black-Olive Butter

amanda

Equipment

  • Roasting Pan with Rimmed Bottom - A large pan designed for even roasting at high temperatures, including a rimmed bottom and oven-safe handles.

  • Cast Iron Skillet (or Dutch Oven) - Utilized for sautéing or braising elements of the recipe, such as vegetables and black olives butter when using fresh ingredients.

  • Silicone Baking Mat - A non-stick mat that is paired with a roasting pan to prevent food from sticking during cooking, ensuring easy removal afterward.

  • Meat Thermometer - An essential tool for checking the internal temperature of Cornish hens to confirm they are thoroughly and safely cooked.

  • Kitchen Twine (Food Grade) - A type of twine used to truss Cornish hens before roasting, maintaining their shape and promoting even cooking.

  • Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls - Serve multiple purposes like mixing marinades or post-roasting serving dishes.

  • Digital Scale (optional) - Aids in accurate measurement of ingredients when following the recipe's preparation steps.

  • Roasting Rack Set - Consists of racks that elevate Cornish hens to ensure even heat distribution and achieve crispy skin during roasting.

  • Oven Mitts (Ovenproof) - Safely handles hot items such as freshly-roasted Cornish hens from the oven.

  • High-Quality Chef's Knife - A versatile kitchen utensil for prep work, including chopping vegetables and making butter, though it isn't directly involved in roasting the Cornish hens.

Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves

  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped shallot

  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped pitted Kalamata or other brine-cured black olives

  • 1 tablespoon drained capers (in brine)

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 4 (1 1/4- to 1 1/2-lb) Cornish hens (not frozen), halved lengthwise

  • 1/4 cup dry white wine

  • a 17- by 13-inch heavy shallow metal baking pan

Instructions

1

Instruction 1

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 500°F.
2

Instruction 2

With motor of a food processor running, drop garlic cloves into processor to finely chop. Add shallot and pulse until finely chopped. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then add garlic mixture (do not wash bowl of food processor), pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic begins to turn golden, 3 to minutes. Return garlic mixture to food processor and add olives and capers. Pulse until olives and capers are finely chopped. Add 5 tablespoons butter and pulse until smooth.
3

Instruction 3

Brush baking pan with oil (1 tablespoon).
4

Instruction 4

Working with 1 hen half at a time, slide your index finger under skin on each breast and around legs, including drumsticks, being careful not to tear skin. Place 1 tablespoon olive butter under skin on each half hen, then massage skin over thigh, drumstick, and breast to distribute butter.
5

Instruction 5

Arrange hen halves, skin sides up, in baking pan. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in small skillet, then brush evenly over skin of hens. Sprinkle hens evenly with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt.
6

Instruction 6

Roast hens until golden and just cooked through, about 30 minutes.
7

Instruction 7

Transfer hens to a platter, then straddle baking pan over 2 burners and add wine. Deglaze pan by simmering over low heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits with a wooden spoon, 2 minutes. Transfer pan sauce to a small serving bowl and skim fat with a spoon. Serve hens with sauce.
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