Grilling cornish hens

Unknown

I've tried to search the forum for posts on how to cook cornish hens but it is kinda difficult. could someone give me an approximate time and temp for their cooking we will be coooking 6. any heelp would be appreciated. thanks in advanced

Richard Fl

You could beer butt them, small juice cans work, spatchcock or quarter and cook like a small chicken. Did a spatchcock chicken 7 lbs last weekend and iced the breasts per "The Missing Mad Max" and pulled about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Indirect plate setter at 350F. Apple wood

Here is one that I have been doing for years, but takes more time and prep BUT worth the work IMHO!

Cornish, Stuffed, Richard




INGREDIENTS:
2-3 Whole Cornish Game Hens
OR
6-8 Whole Quail
Stuffing
3 cups Cooked Rice, Basmati preferred
1/2 cup Pignole, Pine Nuts, Pecans, Walnuts, your choice
1/2 cup Chutney
1/4 cup Scallions
Wrap
4-6 Pieces Bacon
SAUCE
1 Jar Raspberry Jam 4-6 Oz. or Orange Marmalade
Dijon Mustard
Balsamic Vinegar
Lemon Juice
Salt/Pepper




Procedure:
1 Cook Rice, Basmati or Jasmine preferred, Use 1/3 orange juice by volume of total liquid used to cook rice.
2 Mix cooked rice w/ nuts ( pignoles or pecans chopped), chutney, scallions, stuff cornish game hens, works well w/quail. Use: pepper, salt,poultry seasoning whatever you like for rub.. Stuff birds w/mixture.
Optional for game hens:
1 Wrap birds w/bacon , may take 2-3 pieces to totally wrap quail, cornish lay 2-3 pieces on breast and cook indirect breast up. For quail skewer w/large tooth picks or something else to hold the bacon.
2 Place in oven baking dish on rack to keep drippings underneath or place on BGE and grill using indirect method. Bake 325-350 F for 40-50 minutes until bacon is crispy, Start quail birds breast down, and turn breast up 1/2 way into cook. "V" rack works well for cornish, cook breast up with bacon strips.
3 Rest 10 minutes. Serve. If Egging be careful not to let the drippings flare and burn bacon/birds. Great reheated next day.
Sauce
1 Mix the sauce ingredients in a pan on low heat, add raspberry jam first. Tablespoon Dijon, Tablespoon Balsamic vinegar. Lemon juice and seasoning. Bring to slow boil and stir; adjust to your tastes. Orange marmalade may be substituted for the raspberry.
Side Dishes:
1 Grilled Asparagus & Oyster Mushrooms w/ Italian Dressing to grill.
Portions:
1 !/2 Cornish or 2-3 Quail per person.


Servings: 6
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Ready in: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Recipe Type
Main Dish, Poultry

Recipe Source
Author: Richard Howe, 05/25/02

Source: BGE Forum, Richard, 02/27/06

ThrRoff

We like them real simple. Salt, pepper, and granualted garlic with a bit of EVOO on the outside, cooked indirect at around 400 for 45 minuted to an hour. Pull them at 165 in the breast and they will be juicy.

SuperDave

Tim,
Sure thing... scroll down a couple of inches on the page and look for the post titles The Three Amigos by me, SuperDave