27 game hen recipes

Spatchcocked Cornish game hens marinated in tequila, fresh lime juice, Cointreau, and garlic then roasted until golden and crispy. A showstopper dinner with serious fiesta flair.

Roasted Cornish hens stuffed with fresh blueberries and brushed with a lemon-Angostura bitters glaze. An elegant, unexpected dinner that pairs fruit and poultry beautifully.

Mandarin Cornish hens: small game hens roasted and basted in a bright orange juice glaze for tender, citrus-kissed meat and burnished skin. An elegant, simple main with one bird per person or to share.

Slow-simmered wildfowl stock from game bird pieces with wild celery, onions, carrots, and watercress. A patient, traditional method for a deeply flavored base.

Broiled Cornish game hens in a teriyaki-lemon-garlic marinade, showered with fresh cilantro. A simple Thai-inspired main that looks like a restaurant plate.

Cornish hen braised in burgundy wine with fresh raspberries, rosemary, thyme, and garlic, then finished under the broiler for crispy edges. An elegant dinner for one or a romantic meal for two.

Fourth of July grilled Cornish hens split lengthwise and basted with a lemon-garlic-Italian dressing marinade. Backyard BBQ centerpiece that feeds eight for summer holidays.

Sumatran Coconut Cornish Game Hens butterflied, broiled, then braised in a fragrant coconut milk sauce with lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, chili, and coriander until tender and lacquered.

Spanish-style butterflied Cornish hens rubbed with crushed coriander and garlic, roasted crisp, then topped with sauteed almonds and julienned bell peppers. Gallina de Cornuallo al Ajillo for a crowd.

Cornish game hens stewed in fruit and sugar -- I originally got this recipe from the Sunday magazine of the local paper. I served it last year for Christmas dinner, and it's very good. What's more, this recipe is easy: you just put everything in a bowl, marinate overnight, then bake until done!

I used Cornish Game Hens, but you could also use a cut up chicken. If you can't get winter melon, watermelon will work. Winter melon is white, very mild tasting and a tad denser than watermelon. I think you could get away using something like Honeydew too.