HERB-BRINED CORNISH GAME HENS

Herb-Brined Cornish Game Hens image

Instead of a turkey or a big roast, why not serve individual Cornish game hens for the holidays? They cook in a fraction of the time and they're guaranteed to impress all your guests. -Shannon Roum, Cudahy, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 4h10m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 24

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Ingredients

2/3 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
12 whole peppercorns
5 fresh sage leaves
2 garlic cloves
1 fresh thyme sprig
1 fresh rosemary sprig
1 quart water
1-1/2 quarts cold water
2 large turkey-sized oven roasting bags
4 Cornish game hens (20 ounces each)
HERB BUTTER:
14 whole peppercorns
2 garlic cloves
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
1/3 cup packed fresh parsley sprigs
3 tablespoons fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
2 pounds fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 small red onions, cut into wedges
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

Steps:

In a saucepan, combine the salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, sage, garlic, thyme, rosemary and 1 quart water. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add the cold water to cool the brine to room temperature., Place a turkey-sized oven roasting bag inside a second roasting bag; add hens. Carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bags and turn to coat. Place in a roasting pan. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours, turning occasionally. Drain and discard brine; pat hens dry., Meanwhile, place the peppercorns and garlic in a food processor; cover and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the butter, 3 tablespoons olive oil and herbs; cover and process until smooth. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from hens; rub half the butter mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks; tie drumsticks together. Rub remaining butter mixture over skin., In a 15x10x1-in. baking pan, toss the Brussels sprouts and onions with remaining olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer. Place hens, breast side up, on top of the vegetables. Bake at 450° until thermometer inserted in breast reads 165°, 35-40 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if hens brown too quickly., Remove hens and vegetables to a serving platter; cover and let stand for 10 minutes before carving. If desired, garnish with additional herbs.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 592 calories, Fat 39g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 199mg cholesterol, Sodium 474mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 49g protein.