Roasted Guinea Hen with Red Wine Thyme Sauce
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 10 guinea hen breast halves, preferably with wings attached
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 10 thin slices of pancetta, cut into 1/4-inch strips
- 3 pounds small mushrooms, stemmed
- 2 large shallots, minced
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 3/4 pound baby carrots, trimmed
- 3 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 2 cups fresh or frozen peas
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Heat the oil in 2 large nonreactive skillets.
- Season the guinea hen breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Add 3 breast halves to each skillet, skin side down, and cook over high heat until well browned, about 5 minutes.
- Turn and cook until the other side is browned, about 2 minutes; transfer to a platter.
- Brown the remaining breasts in the 2 skillets.
- Add the pancetta to the skillets.
- Cook over low heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a small plate.
- Divide the mushrooms between the skillets and season with salt and pepper.
- Raise the heat to moderately high and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and any exuded liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes.
- Transfer the mushrooms to a large plate.
- Return the pancetta to the skillets and add the shallots.
- Cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until wilted, about 3 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of wine to each skillet and boil until almost evaporated, about 8 minutes.
- Scrape the mixture from the skillets into a large, heavy roasting pan and add the mushrooms.
- Preheat the oven to 450.
- Set the roasting pan on 2 burners over moderately high heat.
- Add the carrots, chicken stock and thyme and bring to a simmer.
- Arrange the guinea hen breasts on top, skin side up, and roast in the oven for about 12 minutes, or until just cooked through.
- Transfer the breasts to a clean platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Set the roasting pan on 2 burners over high heat, add the peas and boil until the peas are tender and the cooking juices are reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 8 minutes.
- Pour in any accumulated juices from the hens.
- Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper.
- Set the guinea hen breasts on large plates and spoon the red wine sauce and vegetables around the breasts.
- Serve at once.
olive oil, attached, salt, thin, mushrooms, shallots, red wine, carrots, chicken stock, thyme, peas, unsalted butter
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/roasted-guinea-hen-with-red-wine-thyme-sauce (may not work)