Recipes

Roasted Cornish Hens with Morels and Leeks

Name: Roasted Cornish Hens with Morels and Leeks
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup small dried morels ( 1/2 ounce); 1 1/2 cups boiling hot water; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 3 large leeks, white and pale green parts only, sliced crosswise 1 inch thick; 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika, plus more for seasoning; 1 cup dry Riesling; 1 cup chicken stock; Salt; 4 Cornish hens, about 1 pound each, legs tied with kitchen twine; Freshly ground pepper; 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon

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“I roast these hens in a large skillet instead of a roasting pan, because it allows more of the skin to get crispy,” Marcia Kiesel says. She cooks the birds over morels and leeks to create a deeply flavorful sauce that gets depth from Riesling.More Recipes for Fast Roasts

By Marcia Kiesel

Updated on December 29, 2021

Roasted Cornish Hens with Morels and Leeks — Photo: © Con Poulos

Active Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

Yield:

4

Ingredients

1/2 cup small dried morels ( 1/2 ounce)
1 1/2 cups boiling hot water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 large leeks, white and pale green parts only, sliced crosswise 1 inch thick
1/2 teaspoon hot paprika, plus more for seasoning
1 cup dry Riesling
1 cup chicken stock
Salt
4 Cornish hens, about 1 pound each, legs tied with kitchen twine
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped tarragon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a small, heatproof bowl, cover the morels with the boiling water. Let stand for about 20 minutes, until softened. Lift the morels from the water and rinse well. Let the soaking liquid stand so the grit settles to the bottom of the bowl.
In a very large, deep skillet, melt the butter in the oil. Add the leeks and the 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the Riesling and simmer until reduced to 1/3 cup, about 4 minutes. Add the stock and slowly pour in the mushroom soaking liquid, stopping before you reach the grit. Add the morels and a pinch of salt.
Season the hens with salt, pepper and paprika. Set them on top of the leeks and morels, breast sides up, cavities facing outward. Roast in the upper third of the oven for about 1 hour, until the juices in the cavities run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the inner thighs registers 160.
Transfer the hens to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes. Simmer the pan juices over moderate heat until the liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, 6 minutes. Add the lemon zest and juice and remove from the heat. Stir in the tarragon; season with salt and pepper.
Transfer the hens to plates and serve with the leeks, morels and sauce.

Suggested Pairing

Try a Riesling Trocken (trocken means dry), both to cook with and to drink with the dish.