Cornish Hens with Lemon and Herbs

Name: Cornish Hens with Lemon and Herbs
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2 Cornish hens (about 1 ¾ pounds each), room temperature, rinsed well and patted dry; 1 bunch fresh thyme (about ½ ounce), plus more for garnish; 2 lemons, halved, plus wedges for serving; 0.25 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

3.4

(221)

3 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on November 22, 2017

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 5 mins

Servings:

4

For more-generous portions, cook one hen per person. If you do, use two roasting pans, and double the other ingredients.

Ingredients

2 Cornish hens (about 1 ¾ pounds each), room temperature, rinsed well and patted dry
1 bunch fresh thyme (about ½ ounce), plus more for garnish
2 lemons, halved, plus wedges for serving
¼ cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place hens in a roasting pan, breast sides up. Place 2 thyme sprigs and 1 lemon half in cavity of each hen. Loosen skin from breast, and place remaining thyme and the parsley underneath. Squeeze remaining lemon halves over hens. Rub butter all over hens. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Roast hens, rotating pan halfway through, until skin turns golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees, 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise. Garnish with thyme sprigs, and serve with lemon wedges.

John Kernick

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, May 2006