GRILLED CORNISH HENS WITH TOMATO-ORANGE SAUCE

Grilled Cornish Hens with Tomato-Orange Sauce image

A sweet-savory sauce gives extra flavor to these elegant, basil-flavored game hens.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Entree

Time 1h45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

Vegetable oil
4 Rock Cornish hens (about 1 1/2 lb each)
2 tablespoons basil-flavored or regular olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup orange marmalade spreadable fruit
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes (from 28-oz can), drained
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh or 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves

Steps:

Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. With kitchen scissors, cut each hen in half along backbone from tail to neck.
Brush hen halves with basil-flavored oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Insert barbecue meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle and does not touch bone.
Place hen halves, skin side down, on grill rack. Cover and grill over medium heat 30 to 40 minutes, brushing occasionally with basil-flavored oil and turning once, until juice of hens is clear when thickest pieces are cut to bone (at least 165°F). Let stand loosely covered about 15 minutes before serving.
While hens are grilling, make sauce. In 1-quart saucepan, heat all sauce ingredients except basil to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered about 25 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly. Stir in basil. Simmer 5 minutes. Serve warm with hens.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 555, Carbohydrate 16 g, Cholesterol 240 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 1 g, Protein 41 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 400 mg