Oven-Braised Cornish Hens with Cider Vinegar and Warm Vegetable Sauce |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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Warm crusty bread is all you need to round out this meal. Use it to soak up the last drops of the tart broth. Ingredients:
2 (1 1/4-pound) cornish hens |
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour |
1/2 teaspoon salt |
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper |
1 1/2 teaspoons butter |
1 teaspoon olive oil |
2 cups (1-inch) slices leek (about 2 large) |
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, halved |
2 garlic cloves, minced |
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth |
1 cup cider vinegar |
3 plum tomatoes, quartered |
1 granny smith apple, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices |
1/2 pound small red potatoes, quartered |
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350º. 2. Rinse hens with cold water; pat dry. Remove skin; trim excess fat. Split hens in half lengthwise. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish; dredge hens in flour mixture. Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil and hens, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove from pan. 3. Add leek, mushrooms, and garlic to pan; sauté 5 minutes. Add broth and vinegar, stirring to loosen browned bits. Return hens to pan; add tomatoes, apple, and potatoes. Bring to a simmer. Cover and bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until hens are done. Place hens on a serving platter, and keep warm. Remove vegetable mixture from pan with a slotted spoon; place in a serving bowl. Reserve 2 cups cooking liquid in pan; discard remaining liquid. Bring reserved cooking liquid to a boil; cook 8 minutes or until reduced by half, stirring occasionally. Pour over vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with hens. |
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