How to Make Glazed Cornish Game Hens With Apricot Pistachio Dressing - A Step-by-Step Guide

Glazed Cornish game hens are a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for a special occasion or holiday meal. These tender, juicy hens are coated in a sweet and tangy glaze, then roasted to golden perfection. But what really takes this dish to the next level is the apricot pistachio dressing that's served on the side. The fruity sweetness of the apricots pairs perfectly with the nuttiness of the pistachios, creating a dressing that's both elegant and delicious.

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Ingredients

  • 4 Cornish game hens (about 1 1/2 pounds each), cut down the backbone with heavy-duty scissors and spread open
  • 2 cups kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium-large onion, cut into medium dice
  • 1 cup dried apricots, cut into medium dice
  • ½ cup apricot jam
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley

Information

  • Servings: 8
  • Yield: 8 servings

  • Brining the hens before roasting improves their flavor: Dissolve 2 cups of kosher salt in a clean bucket filled with 5 quarts of water. Add prepared hens and soak for 2 hours. Rinse thoroughly; pat dry.
  • Adjust oven rack to upper middle position, and heat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet. Saute onions until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in apricots, then spread mixture onto a large (about 18-by-12-inch) lipped cookie sheet. Lay hens over the mixture. Mix jam and vinegar, and brush all but a few tablespoons over hens.
  • Bake hens, brushing 2 or 3 times with remaining jam mixture and accumulated pan juices, until hens are golden brown and juices run clear, about 45 minutes. Turn heat from bake to broil, then cook until hens are spotty brown, watching carefully so they don't burn, 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Transfer hens to a large platter with tongs, then cut in half at the breastbone to create individual servings.
  • Return apricot dressing to the oven and broil to evaporate some of the excess liquid, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in pistachios and parsley. Spoon in a mound next to hens.
  • Nutrition

    866 cal.

    • Total Fat: 56g
    • Saturated Fat: 14g
    • Cholesterol: 340mg
    • Sodium: 23026mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 29g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 20g
    • Protein: 61g
    • Vitamin C: 11mg
    • Calcium: 72mg
    • Iron: 4mg
    • Potassium: 1145mg