Roast Poussin/Cornish Hen and Sweet Potatoes

Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson, 2007

Show: Nigella ExpressEpisode: Everyday Easy

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (8)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(8)

Cook Time:
45 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
2 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 45 min
Total:: 1 hr 0 min

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Directions

This is my almost regular as clockwork Saturday night supper. I find it enormously easy and relaxing to make since all I do is go downstairs, put everything in the oven, and then go back up to Saturday evening tv in bed until it's ready - and then, frankly, back again.

If I cook the poussins/ Cornish hens in the same pan as the sweet potatoes, I cut a couple of slices of bread and put 1 underneath each bird in the tin, so as to absorb the juices and stop them from seeping into the sweet potatoes which, in turn, would prevent them from crisping and browning. But more often than not, I dispense with the bread (you can imagine how good it tastes later though) and just get 2 disposable foil roasting trays about the size of brownie tins each and put the poussins/ Cornish hens in one and the sweet potatoes in another and reuinite on the plate with a little watercress and a squirt of lime juice later. I must have English mustard with. I know it's a weakness, but not one I'm willing to renounce.

Ingredients

2 poussins/Cornish hens
2 tablespoons garlic or wok oil, divided
1 sweet potato weighing approximately 1 pound
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 to 2 bunches watercress
Maldon or kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Good squirt lime juice

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the birds into a small baking tin or foil tray pouring over 1 tablespoon of oil.

Cut the unpeeled sweet potatoes into 2 1/2-inch cubes and put them into another smallish tin or foil tray.Pour over the other tablespoon of oil and sprinkle over the spices, and then toss everything together by shaking the tin.

Cook both the poussins/hens and sweet potatoes in the preheated hot oven for 45 minutes.

Put each poussin/Cornish hen on a plate, with a tangle of watercress and the sweet potatoes alongside. Sprinkle with Maldon/kosher salt, to taste, and spritz with lime juice and go to it!

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Roast Poussin/Cornish Hen and Sweet Potatoes
jennifer Herndon, VA 10-10-2009
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Very Moist & Tender
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I was surprised out how simply delicious this recipe was. I think some of the other reviewers did not understand the recipe.... The cinnamon and cumin were for the potatoes--not the hen. I sprinkled some montreal chicken seasonings on top, after rubbing in the olive oil, and then baked the chicken according to the recipe. The skin turned out crispy, and the meat was amazingly moist, tender, and delicious. FYI--English mustard is just a hot mustard. Quite frankly, this recipe is perfect by itself. I'd definitely make this recipe again. Read more
recipe Roast Poussin/Cornish Hen and Sweet Potatoes
SHARON Germantown, MD 10-04-2009
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Very Disappointed
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I usually love Nigella's recipes, but I was very disappointed by this recipe. I was so looking forward to something special... after reading all the reviews, but I found this recipe to not have much taste. The potatoes were great, but the hens needed a lot more than cumin, cinnamon, and a little oil. Even after sprinkling some lime juice on the birds and adding some salt it still did not have much taste. I am really wondering who is reviewing recipes?Read more
recipe Roast Poussin/Cornish Hen and Sweet Potatoes
Mari Phoenix, AZ 03-13-2009
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Out of this world
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I prepared the hens last night for a gourmet friend. We both were delighted on how mouth-watering good they turned out... (potatoes also, of course). I have a couple of questions regarding the recipe: - what did she mean with "I must have English mustard with." SInce I didn't know, I did not use any. - instead of "wok oil" I used EVOO. It was fine. - the recipe was not clear as to whether to sprinkle the cumin/cinnamon mixture also on the hens; I did. The watercress sprinkled with lime juice (I did fresh) was exactly the right accompaniment to the meal. It was easy, fun and delicous. Thank you Nigella.Read more
recipe Roast Poussin/Cornish Hen and Sweet Potatoes
Angela North Yarmouth, ME 03-11-2009
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Tasted as good as it looked!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Super easy but I did peel the sweet potatoes. Natural,Healthy and less expensive then processed over salted food!
recipe Roast Poussin/Cornish Hen and Sweet Potatoes
null null, null 03-03-2008
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Really Easy and Really Good!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I thought there had to be a catch when I read this recipe and the minimal preparations involved in making it. What a nice... surprise! It turned out just like Nigella described. The only thing I did differently was season the cavities of the birds with Montreal Chicken Seasoning. 45 minutes later I had a gourmet meal...What a deal!Read more
recipe Roast Poussin/Cornish Hen and Sweet Potatoes
Emily Chino Hills, CA 01-02-2008
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Delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Delicious, VERY simple to prepare. The perfect dinner to make after work when you want a real meal. Its really too good of a... dinner to be as easy as it was. The dressing was a delicious surprise, all of the flavors went very well together.Read more