Cornish Hens with Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

Roasted Cornish hens are served with a strawberry-balsamic vinegar sauce in this special-event dinner dish that is sure to impress!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 33 mins
• Total Time: 48 mins
• Calories: 941 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• kitchen twine
• 2 Cornish game hens
• ½ cup seedless strawberry jam
• 1 tablespoon white wine (such as Pacific Rim Dry Riesling)
• 1 dried Thai chile pepper

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Set a metal rack over a baking sheet.

Step 2

Rub Cornish hens with olive oil; season inside and out with salt and pepper. Place 1 sprig rosemary in the cavity of each hen. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Place hens breast side-up on the rack.

Step 3

Roast hens in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh, near the bone, reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 25 to 35 minutes.

Step 4

Combine strawberry jam, white wine, balsamic vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until jam starts to melt, about 3 minutes. Add Thai chile pepper; let steep for 5 minutes.

Step 5

Remove sauce from heat and discard pepper. Serve alongside Cornish hens.