roasted apricot - ginger glazed game hens

By barbell

Ingredients

• 2 cornish game hens
• 4 tsp toasted sesame seed oil
• kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup apricot preserves
• 2 tsp honey
• 2 soy sauce
• 2 tsp fresh lemon jc
• 1 tsp cornstarch

Preparation

Step 1

set a rack in the center of the oven and heatthe oven 10 450. with a sharp knife or poultry shears, remove the backbones from the hens and slice through the breast bon, cutting the hens in half. brush the skin of the hens with 2 tsp of the sesame oil and set them, skin side up, on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet. sprinkle the skin with 1/2 tsp salt and several grinds of pepper. roast until the hens are almost cooked about 25 minutes-instant read thermometer reads 165
meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tsp sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring often until soft and fragrant, 2-3 minutes. stir in the preserves, honey and soy sauce and lemon jc; bring to a boil and cook, stirring ocasionally, untl the mixture has thickened slightly, 4-5 minutes. dissolve the cornstarch in 1 tsp water, add to the saucepan and cook until thickens another minute
brush hens with apricot ginger glaze and continue to roast until the glaze has browned in spots and the thermometer registers 170 in the thigh, another 5 to 7 minutes. season with salt and pepper and serve immediately