CORNISH HENS WITH BROWN RICE STUFFING

Cornish Hens with Brown Rice Stuffing image

Provided by Robin Miller : Food Network

Time 1h20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 Cornish game hens, about 1 1/4 pounds each, giblets removed and discarded
Salt and ground black pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup minced scallions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup instant brown rice
1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained and chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
Prepared cranberry sauce, optional

Steps:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Rinse hens inside and out and pat dry. Season the hens, inside and out, with salt and black pepper. Place hens in a large roasting pan and set aside.
Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add scallions and garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add brown rice and thyme and stir to combine. Add 1 cup of the chicken broth, cover and bring mixture to a simmer. Allow rice to cook for 3 minutes then add the sun-dried tomatoes and bell pepper. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper.
Remove from heat and spoon rice mixture loosely into cavity of hens. Pour remaining 1/2 cup of chicken broth into bottom of pan.
Place hens in oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until juices from thigh run clear when pierced with a fork, basting every 15 minutes with the pan juices.
Remove the hens from the oven and transfer to a platter. Pour the pan juices over top and serve.
Serving suggestion: Serve the stuffed hens with cranberry sauce and a side dish of fresh or frozen snow peas sauteed in a little olive oil and seasoned with salt and crushed red pepper.