Love Birds For Two

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Servings: 2 Difficulty: Advanced
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Tender Cornish hens stuffed with orange-rice pilaf and glazed with a sweet-tart citrus reduction
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This elegant “Love Birds” recipe features tender Cornish game hens stuffed with a fragrant mixture of instant rice, walnuts, and chopped mandarin oranges. The birds are baked until golden and brushed repeatedly with a glossy, homemade glaze made from onion soup mix, orange juice, and cornstarch. The result is a dish that balances savory herbs with bright citrus notes, offering a juicy texture that is both comforting and special enough for date nights or holiday gatherings. It brings a classic home-style Chinese-American flavor profile to your table, making it a memorable meal for two.

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Love Birds For Two

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: , , Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 2 Calories: 47.0

Description

This elegant "Love Birds" recipe features tender Cornish game hens stuffed with a fragrant mixture of instant rice, walnuts, and chopped mandarin oranges. The birds are baked until golden and brushed repeatedly with a glossy, homemade glaze made from onion soup mix, orange juice, and cornstarch. The result is a dish that balances savory herbs with bright citrus notes, offering a juicy texture that is both comforting and special enough for date nights or holiday gatherings. It brings a classic home-style Chinese-American flavor profile to your table, making it a memorable meal for two.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Reserve the syrup from the can of mandarin oranges.
  2. Chop enough mandarin oranges to equal 1/3 cup; reserve the remainder for garnish.
  3. Combine the reserved syrup with enough water to equal 2/3 cup total liquid.
  4. Bring the syrup and water mixture to a boil in a saucepan.
  5. Add 1 envelope of onion soup mix and the instant rice to the boiling liquid.
  6. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
  7. Stir in the chopped mandarin oranges and walnuts.
  8. Stuff the Cornish hens with the rice mixture and secure the openings with toothpicks.
  9. Place the hens in a shallow baking pan.
  10. Bake in a preheated 375&# 194;°F (191ðC) oven for 30 minutes.
  11. While the hens bake, combine the remaining onion soup mix, cornstarch, and orange juice in a small saucepan.
  12. Bring the glaze mixture to a boil, then simmer, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
  13. Brush the glaze over the hens.
  14. Continue baking, basting frequently with the remaining glaze, for another 30 minutes or until the hens are tender.
  15. Garnish with the reserved mandarin orange segments before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 2

Amount Per Serving
Calories 47.0kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0.1g1%
Saturated Fat 0.0g0%
Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
Sodium 0.0mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 12.0g4%
Dietary Fiber 2.4g10%
Sugars 9.0g
Protein 0.9g2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Ensure the Cornish hens are fully thawed before stuffing to ensure even cooking.

The internal temperature of the hens should reach 165ðF (74ðC) in the thickest part of the thigh for safe consumption.

If the glaze becomes too thick while simmering, add a splash of orange juice or water to thin it out.

For a richer flavor, you can substitute half of the water in the rice mixture with chicken broth.

Reserve some glaze for serving on the side if desired.

Keywords: cornish hens, stuffed chicken, orange glaze, mandarin oranges, walnuts, instant rice, onion soup mix, chinese style, date night dinner, holiday main, citrus chicken, easy baking, glazed poultry, comfort food, weeknight special, family meal, roasted chicken, fruit stuffing, savory sweet, home cooking
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