Grilled BBQ Cornish
Game Hens with Grapes
Serves: 6
Cornish Game Hens are not even hens and they are not game birds– they are small domestic hybrid chickens and can actually be a male or female. Who knew?
One
food historian credits chicken mogul Donald John Tyson for creating the Rock
Cornish game hen by crossbreeding White Rock hens and Cornish hens in 1965. His
intent was allegedly to create a specialty item at a higher price that appealed
to a fast-growing contingent of consumers referred to in our contemporary times
as foodies.
However, other sources credit Alphonsine and Jacques Makowsky of Connecticut for developing this small bird some ten years earlier. Their intent was similar, to breed a small chicken with mostly white meat suitable for a single serving. The U.S. patent and trademark files show no ownership filings for the breed.
However, other sources credit Alphonsine and Jacques Makowsky of Connecticut for developing this small bird some ten years earlier. Their intent was similar, to breed a small chicken with mostly white meat suitable for a single serving. The U.S. patent and trademark files show no ownership filings for the breed.
The game hens have a shorter growing span to adulthood, 28 to 30 days as opposed to 42 or more for regular chicken. It is half the size of a standard chicken, has more white meat and weighs an average of 1¼ pounds, bone-in—the perfect individual portion size.
It’s a great
choice for a dinner party, as each person can have their own personal hen, and
you don’t have to worry about who wants the thigh vs. breast on a giant roasted
chicken. These are great served with roasted potatoes, sautéed spinach,
stir-fried summer squash or a couscous salad. It’s a simple dish that’s certain
to impress any dinner guest. This recipe riffs on the elements of
traditional chicken salad: cucumber, grapes, walnuts and honey. Verjus, used in
the vinaigrette, is the tart juice of unripe wine grapes; a lighter alternative
to vinegar, it is available at specialty grocers.
For the Cornish game
hens:
- 6- 1¼ pound Cornish game hens
- 6 shallots, thinly sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 bunch fresh parsley or cilantro, stemmed
For the garnish:
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 bunch red grapes, separated into 6 smaller bunches
For the vinaigrette:
- 1 large red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 med English cucumber, finely diced
- 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 Tb minced fresh ginger
- 2 C Verjus
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 3 Tb honey
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ C walnut oil
Use a pair of kitchen shears to remove the backbone from
each hen, then open hens and lay
flat, skin-side up. Toss shallots,
garlic, red pepper flakes and parsley or cilantro in a bowl. Using a blunt
stick, such as chopsticks, lift the skin of the hen over the breasts and thighs
and tuck mixture under the skin. Be careful to not tear the skin. Gently
massage the marinade into the meat and move about with gentle pressure. If time
allows, allow this to sit on birds for 1-2 hours, refrigerated.
Prepare a grill for cooking over medium-high heat. Lay hens
skin-side down on grill and cook 2 minutes, then rotate hen 90 degrees to
create hash marks on exterior and cook 2 minutes more. Flip hens and continue
to cook until golden and a meat thermometer inserted into breast meat reads 160
degrees, about 20 minutes. Remove hens from grill and set aside to rest, 10
minutes.
Make the garnish: Add oil to a skillet, set over high heat,
then add the grapes and cook,
shaking the pan often to ensure even cooking, until skins blister slightly, 3-5
minutes.
Make vinaigrette: Mix red
bell pepper, cucumber, scallions, ginger, verjus, soy sauce, honey, kosher salt
and walnut oil together in a bowl.
To serve: Ladle a generous amount of vinaigrette onto each
plate. Place 1 hen on each plate and top with a small bunch of grapes.
This pairs well with many wines such as
Grenache, Syrah, Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc. An amazing, juicy and flavorful
delight will surprise you and your friends.
Don't miss this simple throw-together BBQ recipe this summer!
Larue
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Larue