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Recipeother Vegetarian

Moroccan Style Balsamic Cornish Game Hens

i’ve made this recipe often in the past, and while putting together my lj recipe entry list (see ) i discovered it again! i adapted it to our tastes. it was one of our favorites, is perfect for romantic dinners, and it’s absolutely delicious! although it's easy to make, it takes a bit of time but is worth every minute. in my sunday, february 10th, 2002 lj entry, and her original was posted by kc at gail’s recipe swap. thanks, kc! she said “i always add lots of extra olives and dates. they taste wonderful. ”

complex14 ingredients18 preparation steps
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Ingredients

  • orange
  • cornish hens
  • fresh cilantro
  • garlic cloves
  • cumin
  • tawny port
  • sherry wine
  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • honey
  • pitted dates
  • olives
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • butter

Preparation

  1. 1rinse the game hens under running water
  2. 2pat dry and cut them in half lengthwise
  3. 3arrange orange slices in bottom of a 9x13" glass baking dish
  4. 4top with game hens
  5. 5mix 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro , chopped garlic and 1 1 / 4 teaspoons cumin in bowl
  6. 6rub mixture all over hens
  7. 7wash your hands well with soap and hot water
  8. 8whisk together port , sherry , oil , vinegar , and honey in small bowl
  9. 9taste it to see if the mixture is to your taste , then if it is , pour over hens
  10. 10tuck dates and olives between hens and season with salt and pepper
  11. 11cover and refrigerate at least 12 hours or overnight , turning hens once
  12. 12remove hens from refrigerator and place on counter , covered , for at least 30 minutes
  13. 13preheat oven to 375 degrees
  14. 14turn the hens skin side up , then bake hens with marinade , dates and olives until hens are cooked through , basting occasionally , about 40 minutes
  15. 15transfer hens , dates and olives to serving platter
  16. 16discard orange slices
  17. 17pour the pan juices into a heavy small saucepan
  18. 18add remaining 1 / 4 teaspoon cumin and 1 tsp butter and simmer until reduced to about half , whisking frequently , about 5 minutes