FESTIVE STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS

Festive Stuffed Cornish Game Hens image

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
2 cups cubed ciabatta bread
3 medium navel oranges, peeled and sectioned
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
4 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1/2 cup orange juice

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, saute onion and celery in butter and 1 tablespoon oil until tender. Add the garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook 1 minute longer., In a large bowl, combine the bread, oranges, cranberries, pecans and orange zest. Add onion mixture; toss to coat., Loosely stuff hens with stuffing. Tuck wings under hens; tie drumsticks together. Rub with remaining oil; sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Place breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan., Roast 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 165° when inserted in center of stuffing and the thigh reaches at least 180°, basting hens occasionally with orange juice. Cover loosely with foil if hens brown too quickly. Cover and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts :