Skip to main content

Paprika-Roasted Cornish Hens and Vegetables

4.5

(25)

Image may contain Food Meal Dish Dinner Supper Roast Cutlery and Fork
Paprika-Roasted Cornish Hens and VegetablesEllen Silverman
Cooks' note:

· It's much easier to peel celery root with a sharp paring knife than with a vegetable peeler. You may need to do some additional peeling around the root end.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    2 hr

  • Yield

    Serves 6

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 tablespoons sweet paprika (preferably Hungarian)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 (1 1/2-pounds) Cornish hens
3 red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch-wide strips
3 large carrots, cut diagonally into 3/4-inch pieces
6 shallots, halved
1 medium celery root (sometimes called celeriac), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large boiling potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons water

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 475°F. Heat a 17- by 11 1/2- by 2-inch flameproof roasting pan in upper third of oven 10 minutes.

    Step 2

    Stir together oil, paprika, cayenne, and salt in a large bowl. Rinse hens and pat dry. Remove any excess fat from opening of cavities and season cavities with salt and pepper. Tie drumsticks together if desired. Brush some of spice oil over hens. Toss vegetables and caraway seeds in remaining spice oil to coat and transfer to hot roasting pan. Roast vegetables, uncovered, 25 minutes. Stir vegetables and arrange hens, breast sides up, on top. Roast 40 minutes, then baste hens with pan juices and roast 20 minutes more, or until a thermometer inserted in fleshy part of thigh registers 170°F. Pour any juices from inside hens into pan.

    Step 3

    Transfer hens to a cutting board and halve each lengthwise along backbone. Transfer vegetables with a slotted spoon to a platter. Sprinkle parsley over vegetables and top with hen pieces. Skim fat from pan juices and pour over hens. Stir together sour cream and water and serve on the side.

Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.