Spice-Rubbed Game Hens with Rhubarb-Date Chutney

Provided by Eating Well

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  • Prep:
  • Cook:
  • Ready in: 1 hr., 20 mins
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Ingredients

  • 1 orange
  • 4 Cornish game hens, approximately 1 1/2 pounds each
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, preferably kosher
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1/3 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups fresh rhubarb, trimmed and sliced into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup soft pitted dates, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. To prepare hens: Preheat oven to 400°F. Using a vegetable peeler, remove a 2-inch strip of zest from the orange, then cut the orange in half, squeezing juice out of one half and cutting the remaining half into 4 wedges. Place 2 tablespoons of the juice and the strip of zest in a medium saucepan for Step 4. Tuck an orange wedge into the cavity of each game hen. Sprinkle the remaining orange juice over the hens and place breast side up in a large roasting pan, leaving plenty of space between them.

2. Stir together 1 tablespoon brown sugar with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture over the hens and tie the legs together with kitchen string, if desired.

3. Roast the hens until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer registers 180°F when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, about 1 hour. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

4. To prepare chutney: Add vinegar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, ginger and cinnamon to the orange juice and zest in the saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Add rhubarb and dates, increase the heat to medium-high and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently until the rhubarb is tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Just before serving, remove orange zest.

5. To serve, remove string and skin from each hen. Turn breast-side down and slice in half lengthwise using a large heavy knife, cutting straight through to the breast side. Serve each portion with 1/4 cup of the chutney.

Cornish game hens, a naturally smaller breed of chicken, are a cross between Plymouth Rock and Cornish chickens. Usually weighing less than 2 pounds, they will comfortably serve two. If you can't find fresh hens, look for them in the freezer section. To retain moisture, hens should be prepared with the skin on, but to save fat calories, remove the skin before eating.

Nutritional Information per Serving

  calories 256  carbohydrates 18  fat 5  saturated fat 1  mono unsaturated fat 2  protein 33  cholesterol 146  fiber 2  potassium 524     

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    This elegant dish is wonderful for entertaining, as you can make the chutney in advance and prepare the hens the morning or afternoon of the party. While the skin can be crispy and flavorful, you can cut 24 grams of fat per serving by removing it after cooking.