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Tuscan Grilled Cornish Hens

Yields
4 servings

Grilled Cornish hens marinated in a Tuscan-inspired lemon-herb mixture.

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ingredients

2
Cornish hens, flattened
Kosher salt
cup good olive oil
2
tsp grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1
tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)
1
tbsp minced fresh rosemary leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
1
lemon, halved
Fleur de sel, for serving
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directions

Step 1

Sprinkle the Cornish hens with 1 teaspoon salt on each side.

Step 2

Combine the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a ceramic or glass dish just large enough to hold the flattened hens. Add the hens, and turn to coat. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, turning once or twice.

Step 3

When ready to grill, prepare a hot charcoal fire on one side of a grill (or turn a gas grill on low heat). Spread 1/4 of the coals across the other side of the grill. Place the hens on the cooler side skin-side up and weigh them down with a gratin dish with a foil-wrapped brick inside.

Step 4

Cook for 12 minutes, until the underside is golden brown. Turn the hens skin-side down, weigh them down again, and cook for another 12 minutes until the skin is golden brown and the hens are cooked through.

Step 5

Place the lemon halves on the cool side of the grill, cut-side down, for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove the Cornish hens and lemons to a plate or cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut the hens in half, sprinkle with fleur de sel, and serve with the grilled lemon halves.

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