Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens
Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens balance gentle heat from chili sauce with bright orange and herbaceous rosemary, rounded by a subtle anchovy savoriness. The skin grills to a lacquered finish while the meat stays juicy and tender, delivering a vibrant, citrusy bite. Serve for a special weekend dinner or when you want an impressive but approachable grilled main.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook1 hr
- Serves2
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 52 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 8
- Heart Health
- 45
- Metabolic
- 19
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 38
- Performance
- 31
- General Wellness
- 1
Place a game hen breast-side down on a work surface; using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut out the backbone by cutting along both sides of the bone from top to bottom. Remove the backbone. With a sharp knife, slice through the cartilage of the breastbone. Flip the game hen breast-side up, press down to lightly flatten, and tuck the wing tips under the wings. Repeat with the remaining game hen.
- 2
Add the white wine vinegar, vegetable oil, rosemary, orange juice, garlic, egg, Calabrian chili sauce, orange zest, kosher salt, and anchovy fillet to a blender. Pulse a few times to combine, then blend until the marinade is smooth and creamy.
- 3
Place the game hens in a resealable heavy plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Press out the air, seal the bag, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably 8 hours to overnight.
- 4
Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
- 5
Remove the game hens from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Pat the birds dry with paper towels. Season the breast sides with salt.
- 6
Set the game hens breast-side down on the preheated grill and cook until the skin has browned grill marks, about 5 minutes; rotate the hens 45 degrees and grill 5 more minutes to create crosshatch marks.
- 7
Flip the game hens onto their backs, brush with the reserved marinade, and grill with the lid closed for 5 minutes. Brush the hens with more marinade. Repeat, cooking for 5 minutes and then brushing with more marinade, until the hens are deep golden brown and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), about 35 more minutes. Flip the hens breast-side down, brush once more with marinade, and cook with the lid closed until the marinade has glazed onto the chicken, about 5 more minutes.
- 8
Move the hens to a serving platter and let rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
- Calories 1900.24 kcal High 95%
- Protein 108.8 g Good Source 218%
- Carbohydrate 50.69 g 18%
- Total Fat 137.43 g High 176%
- Saturated Fat 31.22 g High 156%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 810.19 mg High 270%
- Sodium 628.53 mg High 27%
- Dietary Fiber 1.83 g Low Source 7%
- Total Sugars 2.89 g --
- Added Sugars 1.83 g Low Source 4%
- Calcium 283.23 mg Good Source 22%
- Iron 3.18 mg Moderate 18%
- Potassium 215.2 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 57.05 mcg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin C 52.52 mg Good Source 58%
- Vitamin D 0.58 mcg Low Source 3%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Fish 🐟
- Eggs 🥚
- Garlic 🧄
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Chef John's Calabrian Style Cornish Hens is made with 12 ingredients and serves 2. It takes about 1 hr 25 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Anchovy, Chili Sauce, Cornish Hen, and Dried Orange Peel. Each serving provides about 1900.24 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens made of?
- The main ingredients are Anchovy, Chili Sauce, Cornish Hen, Dried Orange Peel, Eggs. The full list of 12 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens?
- About 1 hr 25 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 1 hr to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1900.24 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 12 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens healthy?
- Chef John's Calabrian-Style Cornish Hens has an easyChef Pro health score of 39/100. Per serving, it provides 1900.24 calories and 108.8 g of protein, or 218% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 628.53 mg (27% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 31.22 g (156% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Fish, Eggs, Garlic and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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