ACHIOTE MARINATED CORNISH HENS STUFFED WITH CHORIZO AND MUSTARD GREENS

Achiote Marinated Cornish Hens Stuffed with Chorizo and Mustard Greens image

Provided by Aarón Sánchez

Time 13h20m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

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1 package achiote paste
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon toasted cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
5 tablespoons chopped garlic, divided
2 poussins or Cornish hens
4 large links hard, dried Spanish chorizo, diced
1 Spanish onion, diced
1 bunch mustard greens, cleaned, trimmed and roughly chopped
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 baking potato (russet) peeled, diced, and blanched
2 tablespoons sliced green olives
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine in a food processor the achiote paste, olive oil, cumin, coriander, oregano, and 1 tablespoon garlic. Make sure to puree all these ingredients until it becomes a paste. Rub the marinade inside the Cornish hen cavities, underneath the skin, as well as outside. Allow the hens to marinade overnight, refrigerated.
Next day, heat up a large saute pan. Add the chorizo and cook until crispy, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and remaining 4 tablespoons garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the mustard greens and deglaze with the chicken stock. Cook until greens have wilted, about 2 minutes, and then add the potato, green olives, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Once the stuffing has cooled, distribute it equally into the hens and place them on a sheet with a rack. Place in the oven for 1 hour.