Easy to prepare, the Cornish hens can be made in advance giving the cook a breather while preparing the rest of the meal. This main course is an elegant entree for any dinner party so don't store it away just for Passover. Later in the year, substitute a more traditional stuffing for the matzoh. When serving, surround the hens with potatoes or vegetables.
Recipe below serves 6 if hens are halved.
Ingredients for Seasoning and Basting Hens
- 3 (1 1/2 pounds) Cornish hens (Fresh is best but frozen work well as long as they are well-thawed a day or two in advance.)
- Kosher for Passover cooking spray
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 tsp rubbed dry sage or snipped fresh
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 2 tsp cider vinegar
Preparation of Hens -- 350 degree oven
- Remove and discard giblets. Save for making chicken stock.
- Rinse hens under cold water and pat dry
- Remove excess skin and trim fat
- Split hens in half lengthwise
- Place coated hens on a rack (breast side up) in a roasting pan
- Combine applesauce, sage, salt and pepper and cider vinegar. This is the basting sauce.to use during cooking
- Brush basting sauce over hens before putting the hens in oven. Bake hens for 30 minutes.
- Continue to baste with sauce during the cooking process, making sure the hens do not burn.
- Bake additional 30minues or until skin is brown and juices run clear. Baste the last 10 minutes.
Matzoh Stuffing
This is a delicious accompaniment. For best results it is suggested that the stuffing is prepared in a separate baking dish. However, it is possible to stuff each of the hens with the filling. Baking time in this case will need to be adjusted and will probably take longer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 onion minced
- 1 tart cooking apple, finely chopped
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/4 tsp dried sage
- salt, pepper to taste
- 3 cups matzoh farfel
- parve margarine kosher for Passover
- oil Kosher for Passover
Preparation
- Saute onions and garlic in parve margarine or oil. Add apples until soft.
- In separate bowl beat eggs until fluffy.
- In another bowl moisten matzoh farfel with chicken broth. Mix in sage, salt and pepper, onion mixture; next add eggs to matzoh farfel mixture. If too dry, add more chicken broth.
- Turn into a greased baking dish. Dot top with margarine.
- Bake in 350 degree oven until brown, approximately 35 minutes.
The Presentation
Before serving mound the matzoh stuffing in the center of the serving platter surrounded by Cornish hens. Next ring the hens with vegetables such as honeyed carrots and green beans.
Marsha Temlock - Marsha A. Temlock, M.A. is the author of "Your Child's Divorce -- What to Expect ... What You Can Do" (Impact Publishers, Inc.), a ...
