Guinea Hens with Lemon and Rosemary
- Three 3 1/2-pound guinea hens
- 1/4 cup pure olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 3/4 cups dry white wine
- 5 lemons
- 1/3 cup finely chopped rosemary
- 5 large garlic cloves, halved
- Rub the hens with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season them with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Add the hens 1 at a time and brown them over moderately high heat, about 4 minutes per side.
- Transfer the hens to a large roasting pan and let cool slightly.
- Pour off the fat from the skillet.
- Add 1/2 cup of the wine to the skillet and boil over high heat for 2 minutes, using a wooden spatula to scrape up the brown bits from the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Using a citrus zester, zest 3 of the lemons.
- Alternatively, remove the zest from 3 of the lemons using a vegetable peeler, then cut the zest into fine julienne.
- Thinly slice the remaining 2 lemons.
- Rub the hens with the rosemary.
- Put 2 garlic-clove halves and one-third of the lemon slices in each of the hen cavities.
- Tie the legs together and fold the wing tips underneath.
- Scatter the lemon zest over the hens.
- Pour the reduced wine into the roasting pan and add the remaining garlic cloves.
- Roast the hens for about 1 hour, basting after 15 minutes with 1/4 cup of wine.
- Baste 2 more times, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in an inner thigh registers 160.
- Transfer the guinea hens to a carving board, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Pour the pan juices into a glass measuring cup and skim off the fat.
- Set the roasting pan over 2 burners.
- Add the remaining 1/2 cup of wine and boil over high heat, scraping up the brown bits, until almost evaporated.
- Pour in the reserved pan juices and simmer the sauce for 2 minutes.
- Strain the sauce into a warmed gravy boat and season with salt and pepper.
- Carve the hens and serve with the pan sauce.
three, olive oil, salt, white wine, lemons, rosemary, garlic
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/guinea-hens-with-lemon-and-rosemary (may not work)