Cornish Hen With Whisky And Cream Pan Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• For the potatoes: In a bowl smash the boiled potatoes. Add the sour cream, onions, parsley and egg yolk, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Form the mashed potato mixture into 4 cakes and coat with the breadcrumbs. Refrigerate and hold for later use.
• For the Cornish hens: Sprinkle the Cornish hens on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a large saute pan over high heat, add the grapeseed oil and heat until it just begins to smoke. Carefully lay the hens in the pan, skin-side down. Sear the hens until the skin is golden brown and releases from the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-high, turn the hens over, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock and cover the pan with a lid. Continue to cook the hens until they are cooked through, or when an internal thermometer reaches 160 degrees F along the thigh bone. Remove the hens from the pan and let rest.
• Add the demi glace and garlic to the stock in the pan and reduce by half.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, and then whisk or swirl in the pan to incorporate. Add the tarragon and season the jus with salt and pepper.
• Finish the potato cakes. In a saute pan over high heat, heat the grapeseed oil until it just begins to smoke. Place the potato cakes in the pan and cook until the cakes are golden brown. Reduce the heat to medium and flip the cakes and cook until both sides are golden brown. Remove the potato cakes and hold hot for plating.
• For the broccoli rabe: In a saute pan, heat the grapeseed oil and add the broccoli rabe. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the butter. Remove from the pan to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• To plate, spoon 2 ounces of the tarragon jus on to the center of each plate. Place a portion of the broccoli rabe in the center of the sauce. Place a potato cake on top each broccoli rabe pile, then place either half or a whole hen over the potato cakes. Pour the remainder of the sauce over the hens.

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a small pan over a medium heat until the butter starts to foam. Fry the shallot until soft but not golden, about 8 mins.
• Add the bay leaf and garlic, then cook for 1 min more. Add 100ml whisky and simmer until absorbed by the shallots, and almost evaporated.
• Pour in the stock and simmer for 5-10 mins until reduced by half. Stir in the cream and simmer for another 5 mins until thickened slightly. Season with salt and taste the sauce. Stir in the remaining whisky for a stronger flavour. Serve with haggis, steak or mashed potatoes.

Steps:

• For the Cornish hen: Preheat the oven at 450º and position the rack in the middle of the oven. Place a hen, breast side down on a cutting board. Remove the backbone by cutting along both sides with shears or large sharp knife. Flip the hen and flatten it by pressing down on the breastbone with your palm. Split the hen in two along the breastbone. Repeat with the remaining hen. Place on a heavy baking dish and spread on each half, ¼ of a teaspoon of butter, Herbs de Province, salt and pepper and a drop of olive oil. Place in the hot oven and cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Poke the hen while cooking to release any juices. When done, remove from the oven, place the hen in a dish and cover awith aluminum foil and let rest. To make the sauce: Place the unwashed cooking pan over the stove and add the remaining 2 tablespoon of butter and let it melt. Lower the heat and add the whisky, very slowly. With a wooden spoon scrape up any bit on the pan. Add the shallots and cook until tender, 1 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce, mustard and raise the heat to medium high. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Add the heavy cream and the lemon juice. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot over the Cornish hen.