Description
Succulent teriyaki Cornish hens shine with Asian-inspired elegance, delivering bold flavors straight from your kitchen. Crisp bok choy and glossy teriyaki glaze make this dish a delightful culinary journey you’ll savor with every delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Poultry:
- 2 Cornish game hens (about 1.5 pounds / 680 grams each), halved
Sauce Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) rice vinegar
- 1 piece (2 inches / 5 centimeters) ginger, peeled and sliced
Aromatics and Vegetables:
- 2 small red chile peppers, halved
- 1 bunch scallions
- 1 grapefruit, halved
- 1 medium head bok choy, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) sesame seeds, toasted
Seasoning:
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F, preparing a roasting pan for the Cornish hens. Generously season the poultry with salt and pepper, positioning them skin-side upward.
- Create the teriyaki glaze by combining soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, ginger, and chile pepper in a saucepan. Add water and grapefruit zest and juice. Simmer the mixture for approximately 20 minutes until it reaches a thick, syrupy consistency.
- Roast the hens for 25 minutes until the skin turns crisp and golden. Carefully brush the poultry with several tablespoons of the prepared teriyaki sauce.
- Continue roasting for an additional 8 minutes, ensuring the hens are thoroughly cooked and the glaze caramelizes beautifully.
- While the hens roast, prepare the accompanying salad by peeling and segmenting the remaining grapefruit. Slice scallions and mince additional chile pepper.
- Toss the bok choy with grapefruit segments, sliced scallions, minced chile, and sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper to enhance the flavors.
- Plate the roasted hens, drizzling the remaining teriyaki sauce mixed with pan drippings over the top. Serve alongside the fresh bok choy salad and sprinkle with sesame seeds for a final flourish.
Notes
- Swap cornish hens for chicken thighs or drumsticks if preferred, maintaining similar cooking time and temperature.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium soy sauce and cutting sauce concentration by half.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting hoisin sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
- Balance heat levels by removing chile pepper seeds for milder flavor or adding extra chile for spice enthusiasts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 53 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg