Game Hens With Cranberry Barbecue Sauce
This recipe features Cornish game hens roasted with a tangy cranberry barbecue sauce. The sauce is made by simmering fresh cranberries with orange juice, barbecue sauce, and sugar, then used to baste the hens during roasting.
Ingredients
- 1/6 cup commercial barbecue sauce
- 2 Cornish game hens split
- 1/3 cups fresh cranberries
- Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
- 1/6 cup orange juice
- Salt to taste
- 1 1/3 Tbs sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine 1/3 cup fresh cranberries, 1/6 cup orange juice, 1/6 cup commercial barbecue sauce, and 1 1/3 tablespoons sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Lower the heat and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes until the cranberries have softened and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Place 2 split Cornish game hens in a roasting pan.
- Sprinkle the hens with salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste.
- Roast the hens, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
- Baste the hens with some of the cranberry barbecue sauce and continue to roast for an additional 20 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the hens is pierced.
- Serve the hens with additional warm cranberry barbecue sauce on the side.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Advice
Serve these flavorful Cornish game hens with cranberry barbecue sauce alongside roasted vegetables or a fresh green salad for a balanced meal. The tangy and slightly sweet sauce complements the tender game hens beautifully. For a festive touch, add some warm crusty bread to soak up the extra sauce. This dish pairs well with simple sides that won't overpower the unique cranberry flavor, making it perfect for family dinners or special occasions.Variations
For a different flavor profile, try adding a pinch of smoked paprika or chipotle powder to the cranberry barbecue sauce for a smoky heat. You can also substitute the Cornish game hens with small chicken halves or Cornish hen alternatives if preferred. If fresh cranberries are unavailable, frozen cranberries can be used instead. For a sweeter sauce, increase the sugar slightly or add a tablespoon of honey. To make the dish more savory, include a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a dash of soy sauce in the sauce mixture.Wine Advice
Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir's light to medium body and bright red fruit flavors complement the tartness of the cranberry barbecue sauce without overpowering the delicate flavor of the game hens. Zinfandel: Zinfandel offers bold fruitiness and spice that pairs well with the sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, enhancing the overall richness of the roasted game hens. Try serving this dish with a sparkling cranberry spritzer made with cranberry juice, sparkling water, and a splash of orange juice to echo the flavors in the sauce without alcohol. Estimated ingredient cost: USD 6.50 per serving, excluding optional sides and drinks. Local prices vary. Missing nutrition values have been estimated per serving; existing values were retained. Assumptions: Nutrition estimates are based on four servings using 2 split Cornish game hens (approximately 1.5 pounds total), fresh cranberries, commercial barbecue sauce, sugar, and orange juice. Salt and pepper amounts are minimal and estimated. No sides or additional ingredients are included. Serving size is one half of a split game hen with sauce. Optional sides and drinks are excluded.Nutrition values
Calories: 420 kcal | koolhydraten: 18 g | Eiwitten: 38 g | Vet: 22 g | Verzadigd vet: 6 g | Natrium: 320 mg | Suiker: 12 g