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Szechuan Cornish Hens

Are you here just because you’re intrigued about what a “Cornish Game Hen” is, and what a recipe looks like that calls for Cornish Game Hen over a regular ‘old roasting chicken? That’s okay, most of us here at Spices Inc World Headquarters were too when we saw “Cornish Game Hen” on our weekly menu. We’ll start from here: What even is a Cornish Game Hen? Basically, according to the USDA, any chicken that is chosen for processing when it is 5 weeks old (or younger) that is two pounds or less can be called a “Cornish Game Hen.” This means that this recipe could be applicable if you have a single larger roasting chicken that was roughly the same weight as the two Cornish hens we used (so about 4 pounds), you’d just have to adjust for total roasting time. The inspiration for this recipe came from Chef Jeff looking for an appropriate Thanksgiving centerpiece for anyone with a smaller family who didn’t want to roast a whole turkey when they’re only cooking for two (or one). Jeff used two birds which could serve two adults, but if you’re loading up on a lot of side dishes (the beauty of Thanksgiving, no?) you could possibly opt to share one bird for two adults if you like equal parts chicken, potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce… you get the idea.
Our recipe also has a Szechuan (also known as “Sichuan”) twist. Szechuan is a style of cuisine from rural China that features complex flavors that balance each other, but with a particular emphasis on Garlic and a good deal of heat. What that means for you? Lots and lots of flavor! Bland turkey, be gone! Every step of the way Chef Jeff made lots of choices that built flavors on top of each other, so we’re talking marinade, searing, fancy sauce to go on the side, the whole nine yards. If you’re not able to get your hands on Shoaxing wine, cooking sherry could also work. Just don’t try to replace the star of our show- Sichuan Peppercorns! Sichuan Peppercorns are what gives Szechuan cooking the signature It gives food the “ma la” flavor that Sichuan cuisine is known for. Sichuan Peppercorns are “spicy” in a sense, but perhaps a better word for them would be “zesty”- there’s heat in Sichuan peppercorns, but also a distinct prickling, tingling flavor that feels electric to the palate.
Need another reason to pull out your cast iron skillet? Jeff recommends using your cast iron for this particular recipe as it calls for two different cooking methods (searing and roasting) that cast iron is excellent for. Lastly, green onions are a perfect garnish for this dish as they give a lovely fresh crunch and a subtle touch of onion. At last, a holiday where you won’t be swamped with leftovers!
Ingredients:
- 3 Tbsp Low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Shoaxing wine
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp Ginger root, minced
- 3 Garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp Sesame oil
- 1 tsp Ground Sichuan Peppercorns
- 1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 Cornish hens
- 2 tsp Olive oil
- 4 Scallions, sliced thin
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, Shoaxing wine, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, Sichuan pepper, and red pepper flakes and mix well.
- Place Cornish hens in freezer bag, or a dish and pour marinade in. Seal or cover and marinate for at least 2 hours. Overnight is fine.
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- In an ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the hens to the skillet and brown for 4 minutes on each side. Place skillet in oven, uncovered and breast side up. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Garnish with scallions and serve with Szechuan Hot Sauce.
Makes 2 servings.
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories390.80
Total Fat 11.50g
Saturated Fat2.50g
Polyunsaturated Fat2.50g
Monounsaturated Fat5.10g
Cholesterol 217.50g
Sodium 116.50mg
Potassium 689.00mg
Total Carbohydrate 11.00g
Dietary Fiber0.20g
Total Sugars7.50g
Protein 50.20g
Ingredients for this recipe:
Organic Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Starting at: $5.46
Ground Sichuan Peppercorns
Starting at: $30.20