Five-spice roasted guinea hens
1 servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | tablespoons | Five-spice powder* |
| 4 | tablespoons | Vegetable oil |
| Four; (2 1/2-pound) guinea | ||
| ; hens,** rinsed and | ||
| ; patted dry | ||
| 1 | cup | Dry white wine |
| The zest of 1 1/2 navel oranges; removed in strips | ||
| ; with a vegetable | ||
| ; peeler | ||
| Eight; (1/4-inch-thick) | ||
| ; slices of fresh | ||
| ; gingerroot, crushed | ||
| ; lightly with the | ||
| ; flatside of a large | ||
| ; knife | ||
| 3 | Whole star anise* | |
| 2½ | cup | Chicken broth |
| ½ | cup | Water |
| 3 | tablespoons | Soy sauce |
| 2 | tablespoons | Cornstarch; dissolved in 2 |
| ; tablespoons cold | ||
| ; water | ||
| ***FOR STEAMED BROCCOLI RABE AS AN | ||
| ; ACCOMPANIMENT*** | ||
| 2½ | pounds | Broccoli rabe; (available at |
| ; specialty produce | ||
| ; markets and some | ||
| ; supermarkets) or | ||
| ; choi sum (Chinese | ||
| ; flowering cabbage, | ||
| ; available at Asian | ||
| ; markets) | ||
Directions
FOR THE SAUCE
*available at Asian markets, specialty foods shops, and some supermarkets **available at some butcher shops In a small bowl stir together the five-spice powder and 2 tablespoons of the oil, rub the mixture on the guinea hens, and season the hens with salt.
In a large heavy skillet heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it brown the hens lightly, 1 at a time. Arrange the browned hens, breast side down, in 2 roasting pans and roast them in a preheated 350F. oven, switching the pans from one rack to the other after 30 minutes, for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the fleshy part of the thigh registers 170F. Transfer the hens to a cutting board and let them stand, covered loosely with foil, for 15 minutes.
Make the sauce while the hens are standing: Skim the fat from the pan juices, divide the wine between the pans, and deglaze the pans over high heat, scraping up the brown bits. Transfer the mixture to a large saucepan, add the zest, the gingerroot, and the star anise, and boil the mixture until the liquid is reduced to about ⅓ cup.
Add the broth, the water, and the soy sauce and cook the mixture at a slow boil for 5 minutes. Stir the cornstarch mixture, stir it into the zest mixture, and simmer the sauce for 2 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a saucepan and keep it warm.
Carve the guinea hens, divide the broccoli rabe among 8 heated plates, and arrange the meat on it. Spoon some of the sauce over each serving and serve the remaining sauce separately. To make steamed broccoli rabe:
Trim and discard any yellow or coarse leaves and the tough stem ends from the broccoli rabe and wash the broccoli rabe well in several changes of cold water. In a steamer set over boiling water steam the broccoli rabe, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the stems are tender.
Serves 8.
Gourmet October 1992
Converted by MC_Buster.
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.