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+ servings

Saffron Bulgur Wheat With Baked Game Hen

by

Derek Farwagi

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 2
Calories 824 kcal

Equipment

  • small baking tray, oven proof dish or cast iron skillet.
  • a quart pot to soak the bulgur wheat
  • a small frying pan to sauté the shallots

Ingredients
 
 

The game hens

  • 1 game hen
  • 1 large red onion
  • 1 orange
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • salt and pepper to taste

The bulgur wheat

  • 1 cup coarse bulgur wheat
  • A fistful of crushed vermicelli.
  • 1 cups water or chicken stock
  • 2 shallots
  • A handful of raisins (either golden or red raisins).
  • A pinch of saffron
  • 2 tbsp olive to drizzle on hen and slices before baking

Instructions
 

The game hens

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  • Slice the red onions in 1/4" slices.
  • Cut the orange in half. Thinly slice one half (about 1/8" so the peel is thin enough to caramelizes and becomes edible). Squeeze the juice of the other half in a small bowl.
  • Stuff the hen with a few slices of red onions and oranges.
  • Spread remaining onion and orange slices in a foil lined baking tray, oven proof dish or cast iron skillet
  • Pat the hens dry. Salt and pepper both sides and place over the onions and oranges. In that way the juices will drip onto the slices.
  • Mix the orange juice and honey. This is your basting liquid.
  • Drizzle a little oilve oil and bake for about 40 minutes, basting frequently.
  • When the hen is cooked remove from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes.

The bulgur wheat

  • Bring 2+ cups of water to boil.
  • While the water is heating up, sauté the shallots with 1 tbsp olive oil on a medium heat till softened - about 5 minutes. Set aside in a small bowl.
  • Wipe the pan, add 1tbsp olive oil and toast the vermicelli. Set aside.
  • In a small cup or bowl, soak the saffron in 2 tbsp boiling water. Set aside
  • Rinse the bulgur wheat then add it to boiling water. Add the onions, raisins, vermicelli and saffron and salt to taste, mix and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Turn the heat off, cover pot and let the mixture soak for about 20 minutes.
  • Test for doneness. The wheat should still have a slight "al denté" texture to it. If it needs more time, add a little more water and put back on a low fire.

Serve the dish

  • Cut the hen in half using kitchen scissors.
  • Make a bed of bulgur wheat on each plate and place half a hen on that.
  • Add a few slices of cooked onion and orange peel to each portion and serve.
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Nutrition

Calories: 824kcalCarbohydrates: 87gProtein: 49gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 227mgSodium: 155mgPotassium: 1111mgFiber: 16gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 399IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Bulgur Wheat, game hen