Heather's Rosemary Citrus Cornish Hens

Cornish game hens are brined and stuffed with herbs, grapefruit, orange, lemon, and lime pieces. The fruit infuses the meat with flavor as the hens roast.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 50 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 10 mins

Ingredients

• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
• 4 Cornish game hens
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, or to taste, chopped
• 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
• 1 lemon, cut into quarters
• 1 grapefruit, cut into quarters
• 1 juicy orange, cut into quarters
• 1 lime, cut into quarters
• 1 sprig fresh thyme, or to taste, chopped
• 0.25 cup water
• 0.25 cup olive oil
• 4.5 cups water
• 4.5 cups vegetable broth

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring the vegetable broth, 4 1/2 cups of water, the allspice berries, black peppercorns, and kosher salt to a boil in a large pot, stirring to dissolve the salt. Remove the brine from the heat, and set aside to cool. When the brine is cool, place the Cornish hens into the brine and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the game hens from the brine, and pat dry. Discard the brine.

Step 3

Place the cut-up grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, rosemary, and thyme into a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on High for 2 minutes; with tongs, stuff the fruit and herbs into the cavities of the Cornish hens. Slather each hen with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Place the stuffed hens into a roasting dish, breast sides up.

Step 4

Roast in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). For extra-crispy skin, turn the oven heat up to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Allow the hens to rest for 10 minutes before serving.