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How to Make Roasted Orange-Tarragon Cornish Hens - A Step-by-Step Guide

Roasted Orange-Tarragon Cornish Hens are a delightful and impressive dish that is perfect for a special dinner or holiday meal. This recipe elevates the traditional Cornish hen by infusing it with the vibrant flavors of orange and tarragon, resulting in a succulent and flavorful main course that is sure to impress your guests.

What makes this dish truly standout is the combination of bright citrus from the oranges and the fragrant, slightly sweet taste of tarragon. These flavors perfe...

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Ingredients

  • 2 Cornish hens, thawed
  • 1 orange, zested and juiced
  • 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • kitchen twine

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr
  • Additional Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
  • Servings: 2
  • Yield: 2 servings

  • Remove and discard giblet, if any. Rinse hens inside and out and pat dry. Loosen skin from the breasts and place hens in a large resealable plastic bag.
  • Whisk orange juice, orange zest, tarragon, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Whisking continually, slowly drizzle in olive oil until combined. Pour marinade over the hens in the bag, making sure to get some under the skin. Seal bag and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Remove hens from the bag, letting excess marinade drip off; pour remaining marinade into a small saucepan and set aside. Place hens in a small roasting pan and season with salt and pepper. Tie legs together with kitchen twine and tuck wing tips underneath.
  • Roast in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue cooking, basting with pan juices every 10 to 15 minutes, until hens are golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 25 to 30 minutes more.
  • Transfer hens to a serving plate, pouring any cavity juices back into the roasting pan. Tent with aluminum foil and keep warm.
  • Scrape pan juices and pour through a strainer into the saucepan with the reserved marinade. Bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Season sauce with salt and pepper, if necessary.
  • Serve Cornish hens whole or cut in half. Spoon pan sauce over hens to serve.

    • Nutrition

    838 cal.

    • Total Fat: 61g
    • Saturated Fat: 15g
    • Cholesterol: 339mg
    • Sodium: 528mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 11g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 8g
    • Protein: 59g
    • Vitamin C: 47mg
    • Calcium: 85mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 979mg

    Categories

    Main recipes
    Poultry recipes
    Roasted recipes
    Holiday recipes
    Special occasions recipes