5.0 from 87 votes
Cornish Game Hen with Whiskey and Cream Sauce
Cornish game hen with whiskey and cream sauce. Is the perfect last-minute get-together dinner meal. Easy to prepare, and half of a hen is the perfect balance between white and dark meat. I always have two in my freezer
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 4
Calories: 706 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 cornish hen
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 shallots finely sliced
- ⅓ cup whiskey
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Herbs de Province a big pinch
Instructions
FOR THE CORNISH GAME HEN
- Preheat the oven at 450º and position the rack in the middle of the oven.
- Place a hen, breast side down on a cutting board. Remove the backbone by cutting along both sides with shears or a large sharp knife.
- Flip the hen and flatten it by pressing down on the breastbone with your palm. Split the hen in two along the breastbone. Repeat with the remaining hen.
- Place on a heavy roasting pan and spread on each half, ¼ of a teaspoon of butter, Herbs de Provence, salt and pepper, and a drop of olive oil. Place in the hot oven and cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Poke the hen while cooking to release any juices.
- When done, remove from the oven, place the hen in a dish and cover with aluminum foil and let rest.
Cup of Yum
FOR THE WHISKEY AND CREAM SAUCE
- Place the unwashed cooking pan over the stove and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and let it melt. Lower the heat and add the whiskey, very slowly. With a wooden spoon scrape up any bit on the pan.
- Add the shallots and cook until tender, 1 minute. Add the Worcestershire sauce, mustard and raise the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil stirring constantly
- Add the heavy cream and the lemon juice. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot over the Cornish hen.
Notes
- TIPS on Cooking with alcohol
- The whiskey evaporates as it cooks, leaving a wonderful bold flavor in the cream and butter. Cognac can be used instead of whiskey. As well as bourbon.
- Be extremely careful when placing alcohol in a skillet. I always remove the skillet from the heat source and turn it off.
- Placing the alcohol in the middle of the pan is also a safe way of doing it.
- Keep your eyes on the skillet, of course, pouring away from you, and keep all loose clothing away from the heat source too.
- When returning to the stove, start with a low flame and increase. Gently swirl it around and add the cream.
- Serve the cooked cornish with the lemon slices and top with the sauce.
Nutrition Information
Calories
706kcal
(35%)
Carbohydrates
1g
(0%)
Protein
39g
(78%)
Fat
54g
(83%)
Saturated Fat
22g
(110%)
Cholesterol
298mg
(99%)
Sodium
207mg
(9%)
Potassium
565mg
(16%)
Vitamin A
1030IU
(21%)
Vitamin C
2.1mg
(2%)
Calcium
44mg
(4%)
Iron
1.9mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 706
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 706kcal | 35% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 39g | 78% |
| Fat | 54g | 83% |
| Saturated Fat | 22g | 110% |
| Cholesterol | 298mg | 99% |
| Sodium | 207mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 565mg | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 1030IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 2.1mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 44mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.