Rustic Italian Lightly Smoked Cornish Hen
Meal Type · Season · Nationality
Dinner · Winter · Italian
✓ Healthy
Ingredients
- Cornish Hen
• 2 Cornish hens (about 1–1.5 lb each)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 lemon (zest + wedges)
• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary (or 2 tsp dried)
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Rustic Bake Base
• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
• 1 medium onion, sliced thick
• 1 bell pepper or fennel bulb, sliced
• ½ cup dry white wine (or light red like Chianti)
• ½ cup chicken stock
- Optional Italian Touches
• Handful of olives
• Cherry tomatoes
• Capers
Steps
1. Mix all marinade ingredients in the bowl, and marinate the hens
2. Smoker temp 225 F, pat hens slightly dry, smoke for 45-60 minutes, looking for 110-120F internal temp
3. Preheat oven to 400F
4. I a roasting dish, toss potatoes, onion, pepper with oil, spread evenly
5. Pour wine and chicken stock, add hens on top, add lemon wedges around the pan
6. Roast 35-45 minutes until 165F