Cornish Hens With Fresh Figs Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Begin by re-hydrating the figs. In a large mixing bowl add the figs, honey, lemon juice and cover with warm water. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 20 to 25 minutes until the figs are tender and soft. Strain the figs and reserve the liquid - as this will be the base for the glaze.
• To make the stuffing, heat a little extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat and gently saute the onions with rosemary. Add the sweet Italian sausage and continue to saute until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. When done, scrape it all into a large mixing bowl, add the cornbread pieces and figs and season well with salt and pepper. Give it a good toss until it's well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, cream, and stock, and pour that over the cornbread. Stir the stuffing together and set it aside while you work on the hens.
• Wash and clean the birds. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and fill with stuffing. Dot the top of each bird with butter and season with salt and pepper. Lay out on a roasting tray and pop into the oven for 40 to 45 minutes. While they are roasting, set the fig liquid over medium-high heat and add balsamic and butter. Reduce until syrupy and baste the birds with 10 minutes to go. When done, an instant-read thermometer should registers 160 degrees F in the thickest part of the thigh. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Hens:.
• Preheat an oven to 400°F
• Rinse the birds and pat dry.
• Rub inside and out with the salt and pepper, then with the sage/thyme and rosemary.
• Discard the herbs or, if you prefer, leave some of them clinging to the skin or tucked under the skin. (This is my preference).
• Stuffing:.
• Place half of the bread chunks in a large bowl mixed with the dried figs and apricots, rosemary, thyme, walnuts, salt and pepper and set aside.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the boiling water and pour the mixture over the stuffing mixture, turning it to soak all the pieces, about 10 minutes.
• Mix stuffing well with your hands, forming a bit of a 'paste'.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the paste and set aside.
• Add the remainder of the bread chunks to the main stuffing mixture and stir lightly to incorporate.
• Spoon 1/4 to 1/3 cup stuffing into the cavity of each bird. Do not pack the cavities too full.
• Gently slip your fingers between the skin and the meat of the breast to make a pocket, and tuck some of the 'paste' stuffing under the skin and gently massage the breast of the bird to even it out.
• Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wings under the breasts.
• Place the birds, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 35 minutes.
• Glaze:.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the jam and vinegar and heat, stirring occasionally, until a syrup forms, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the birds from the oven and, using a pastry brush, coat them with the glaze.
• Return the birds to the oven and roast until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 - 30 minutes more.
• Remove the birds from the oven, garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve. Serves 4.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F with rack in upper third.
• Cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-low heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Add garlic to skillet and cook, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels with bacon.
• Pat hens dry and season with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat fat in skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke. Brown 4 hen halves, skin side down, about 6 minutes. Transfer, skin side up, to a large 4-sided sheet pan. Brown remaining hens, transferring to sheet pan. Reserve skillet.
• Scatter thyme and figs over hens, then roast until hens are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, deglaze skillet with lemon juice by simmering, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 30 seconds. Pour over roast hens. Scatter bacon and garlic over hens.

Steps:

• In a heavy ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven, combine the onions with 3 tablespoons of the honey, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn a deep caramel color, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, wash and dry the hens. In a small bowl, mix the oil with the saffron, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Coat the hens inside and out with the mixture and set them on top of the onions. Still over medium heat, cover, and cook until the hens are tender and the juices run clear, 45 to 50 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Remove the hens from the pan and cut them in half, if desired. Return to the pan and surround with the figs. Drizzle the dish with the remaining 3 tablespoons honey. Broil, watching carefully, until the breasts turn brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve. This recipe yields 4 servings.

Steps:

• In a heavy ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven, combine the onions with 3 tablespoons of the honey, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn a deep caramel color, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, wash and dry the hens.
• In a small bowl, mix the oil with the saffron, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Coat the hens inside and out with the mixture and set them on top of the onions.
• Still over medium heat, cover, and cook until the hens are tender and the juices run clear, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Remove the hens from the pan and cut them in half, if desired.
• Return to the pan and surround with the figs.
• Drizzle the dish with the remaining 3 tablespoons honey.
• Broil, watching carefully, until the breasts turn brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter and serve.