Bacon-Wrapped Cornish Game Hens With Raspberry Balsamic Glaze
🕒 Cook Time: 35 minutes
🕒 Prep Time: 25 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 1 hour
Description: This dish is a true winner, boasting simplicity, ease of preparation, and an impressive presentation that never fails to impress. With its flawless execution and delightful flavor profile, it’s a recipe I’ve turned to time and time again, with consistently stellar results. Derived from the August 2003 issue of Gourmet magazine, this culinary gem is perfect for any occasion, particularly for entertaining guests. Recently, I had the pleasure of serving it to a party of 10, and it received rave reviews from all!
Recipe Category: Chicken
Keywords: Poultry, Meat, High Protein, High In…, < 60 Mins, Easy
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 494.3
- Fat Content: 30.6g
- Saturated Fat Content: 8.9g
- Cholesterol Content: 179.2mg
- Sodium Content: 227.7mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 21.2g
- Fiber Content: 0.3g
- Sugar Content: 15.3g
- Protein Content: 30.6g
- Servings: 8
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 2/3 | Raspberry jam |
| 1/2 | Balsamic vinegar |
| 16 | Bacon slices |
| 4 | Cornish game hens |
Instructions:
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Prepare the Glaze: In a small saucepan, briskly simmer the raspberry jam and balsamic vinegar, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the glaze is reduced to about 1/2 cup. This typically takes around 8 minutes.
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Cool the Glaze: Allow the glaze to cool to room temperature; you’ll notice it thickening slightly as it cools.
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Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius).
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Cook the Bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon slices in batches until some of the fat is rendered, but the bacon is still translucent and pliable. This usually takes around 5-7 minutes per batch. Transfer the cooked bacon to paper towels to drain excess grease.
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Prepare the Hens: Using kitchen shears, cut and discard the backbones from each Cornish game hen. Then, halve each hen lengthwise. Pat dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Arrange in Pan: Arrange the halved hens in a large roasting pan, cut sides down.
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Wrap with Bacon: Wrap two slices of bacon around each half hen, tucking the ends under to secure.
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Brush with Glaze: Liberally brush each wrapped hen with the prepared glaze, ensuring to reserve some for later use.
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Roast in the Oven: Place the roasting pan in the middle of the preheated oven. Roast the hens, brushing with pan juices and the reserved glaze every 10 minutes, until the juices run clear when a thigh is pierced. This typically takes about 30-35 minutes.
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Serve: Once cooked to perfection, remove the bacon-wrapped Cornish game hens from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. Optionally, you can garnish with fresh herbs or additional glaze for extra flavor.
This delightful dish is sure to impress your guests with its succulent flavor and elegant presentation. Enjoy the culinary journey as you savor each delicious bite of these bacon-wrapped delights!
