Game Hens With Cardamom And Oregano

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 18 cardamom pods
• 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons oregano, fresh or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 4 cornish hens, butterflied (3/4 to 1 pound each)
• fresh ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 pound the cardamom pods to loosen the husks. use a mortar and pestle to pound the seeds, releasing their flavor. add the garlic, salt, and oregano; and continue to pound until the ingredients are well mixed.
• 2 add 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and continue to crush until you have a smooth paste.
• 3 rub 3/4 of the paste over the hens, making sure you cover all of their surfaces.
• 4 mix the remaining paste with the remaining olive oil, and pour over the birds, reserving a little bit to baste with while grilling.
• 5 cover and marinate for at least four and up to eight hours, turning occasionally.
• 6 preheat a grill to high.
• 7 season the birds with plenty of pepper, then place on the grill and sear being careful of flare-ups, until the skin is golden.
• 8 move the birds to indirect heat, and grill until completely cooked, basting with the reserved marinate during the last few minutes of cooking.