Grilled Cornish Hens – Women Can Grill

By Christie Vanover | Revealed November 14, 2022 | Final Up to date November 15, 2022

What’s a Cornish hen?

In keeping with the North American Meat Institute, Cornish hens are literally chickens.

In contrast to the 4-7-pound entire rooster you’re conversant in within the butcher aisle of your grocery retailer, cornish hens are a particular, smaller breed. They’re processed at a youthful age and often weigh between 1-2 kilos.

Whereas you may even see them labeled as Cornish sport hens, they’re not really sport birds like quail, pheasant or squab. They’re farmed like chickens, however bred for a smaller closing product.

Most frequently, Cornish hens might be discovered within the freezer part at your market. They’re often are available packs of two and solely take 1-2 days to thaw within the fridge.

Like all chickens, they include two legs and thighs, that are darkish meat, and two breasts and wings, that are chicken.

Why would you grill Cornish hens as an alternative of bigger rooster?

Due to their petite dimension, Cornish hens make for a singular, individual-sized presentation.

Additionally they cook dinner extra rapidly and have a barely sweeter and extra tender taste and texture. Their small dimension additionally permits them to soak up marinade extra rapidly.

• Cornish Hens: Search for these within the freezer part of your native grocery retailer. They often are available 2 packs.
• Olive Oil: This serves as the bottom of the French dressing.
• White Wine Vinegar: When making the cumin French dressing for this recipe, I exploit white wine vinegar. See the notes beneath for different choices.
• Sugar: Each French dressing wants one thing candy to steadiness the acid. This recipe makes use of granulated white sugar.
• Garlic: Recent cloves are finest, however garlic powder or granulated garlic will also be used.
• Kosher Salt: I want to grill with kosher salt. If you happen to solely have desk salt, use half as a lot.
• Worcestershire Sauce: This helps brown the hen pores and skin because it’s cooking.
• Cumin: Floor cumin is an earthy spice usually utilized in Latin cooking.
• Limes: The juice of two limes provides sweetness and acid.

1. STEP ONE: In a small bowl, combine the French dressing and set 1/4 cup apart. The bulk can be used for marinating the Cornish hens, whereas the quantity you put aside can be used for basting the birds as they’re cooking.

2. STEP TWO: Take away the thawed Cornish hens from their packaging and pat dry with a paper towel. Place hens in a zip-top bag. Add 3/4 cup of the French dressing to the bag. Seal it, eradicating as a lot air as attainable, and therapeutic massage the birds so that they take in the marinade. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours.

3. STEP THREE: Take away the hens from the marinade and place the entire fowl on a preheated grill over oblique warmth. Prepare dinner them for about half-hour, rotating (not flipping) sometimes.

Rotating them 1 / 4 flip each 10 minutes will assist them brown evenly.

4. STEP FOUR: After about half-hour, begin basting them with the 1/4-cup of French dressing that you just put aside. Proceed grilling the hens for about Quarter-hour, or till they’re golden brown and the inner temperature reaches 165F levels.

The way to serve grilled Cornish hens

As soon as the hens are golden brown, take away them from the grill and place them on a platter. Garnish with contemporary herbs for a reasonably presentation. Serve them entire or minimize them in half and serve with a pair facet dishes like Grilled Carrots or Grilled Acorn Squash Rings.

Storage

Identical to a rotisserie or Grilled Complete Rooster, you may pull any remaining meat from the bones and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days. You may also freeze the meat in an hermetic container for as much as six months.

If you happen to save the meat in small baggies, it makes for an ideal fast protein snack. You may also use the leftovers in quiche, tacos or on a sandwich or wrap.