A perfect “little chicken” for a dinner party or Sunday dinner, Rock Cornish Hens have been around since the 1950’s. They are very flavourful, but can be a little dry and are served here with Craisin Sauce
Course Main Course
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword Craisin Sauce, orange juice, Rock Cornish Hens
Prep Time 30 minutesmins
Cook Time 1 hourhr15 minutesmins
Servings 6
Author Ginny D
Ingredients
4Rock Cornish hens
salt to taste
¼cupmelted butter
⅔cupsCraisins - sweetened dried cranberries
⅔cupsorange juice
¼cupall purpose flour
¼cupbutter
¼Tsppaprika
good grinding of fresh pepper
2cupsmilk
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 °F . Wash hens and pat dry with paper towel. Sprinkle salt in the cavities. Place hens breast side up on rack in open shallow roasting pan; Brush with melted butter. Do not add water. Do not cover. Roast 50 minutes brushing hens 3 or 4 times with the melted butter.
Craisin Sauce
Meanwhile, combine the Craisins and orange juice in small saucepan; heat to boiling. Take off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes with the cover on.
Melt ¼ cup butter in small saucepan. Take off the heat and blend in the flour, 1 tsp salt, the paprika and pepper. Add about ¼ cup of the milk and stir in. Place it back on the stove and continue to stir and gradually add the rest of the milk; continue to stir until it thickens. Gradually stir in the Craisin-orange juice mixture.
If the sauce is too thick, you can thin it with additional orange juice or milk.
Increase oven temperature to 400 °F ; roast hens 10 minutes longer or until brown.
Remove the hens from the oven. They should be nicely browned.
Cut each hen in half, place on plate. Serve with "Easy Steamed Rice" and Craisin sauce.