Moroccan Couscous Stuffed Cornish Hens

Moroccan Couscous Stuffed Cornish Hens

Prep: 30 mins (includes spice-mixing therapy) Cook: 50 mins Serves: 4 (one hen per person, we don't share here)

Fun Fact: Cornish hens aren't actually from Cornwall, England - they were created in Connecticut by a French woman! Talk about an identity crisis.

Ingredients

  • • 4 Cornish hens (the tiny chickens that think they're fancy)
  • • 2 cups couscous (tiny pasta that cooks faster than your TikTok attention span)
  • • 1 cup dried apricots, chopped (nature's candy)
  • • 1/2 cup honey (bee juice)

  • Moroccan Spice Mix:

    • • 2 tsp cumin (not cummin - different spelling, very different thing)
    • • 2 tsp coriander (the spice, not the herb that tastes like soap to some people)
    • • 1 tsp cinnamon (the good kind, not the challenge kind)
    • • 1 tsp paprika (for color and sass)
    • • 1/2 tsp turmeric (will stain everything yellow, including your counters, fingers, and dreams)
    • • 1/4 tsp cayenne (adjust based on how much you want your guests to sweat)

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). If your oven runs hot, you know what to do. If you don't know if your oven runs hot, surprise! It probably does.

2

Mix your spices together like you're a medieval alchemist. Try not to sneeze - these spices are precious and turmeric stains are forever.

3

Pat your tiny chickens dry. Give them a little pep talk - they're about to become the stars of your dinner party.

4

Rub spice mix all over and under the skin. Yes, this feels weird. Yes, you're doing it right.

5

Meanwhile, cook couscous according to package directions. Or if you're feeling rebellious, just pour boiling water over it and wait 5 minutes - it's actually that easy.

6

Mix your cooked couscous with chopped apricots, a drizzle of honey, and any remaining spice mix. This is your tiny pasta pillow of deliciousness.

7

Stuff your birds like they're tiny Thanksgiving turkeys. Don't worry, they can handle it.

8

Drizzle with honey, because we're fancy like that.

9

Roast for about 45-50 minutes, or until they're golden brown and looking Instagram-worthy.

Serve With

  • 🍽️ Extra couscous (because everyone will want more)
  • 🌿 Fresh herbs (for that "I'm a food stylist" look)
  • 💬 Your best dinner party stories

Pro Tips

  • ✨ If you can't find Cornish hens, regular chickens work too, but then you'll need to rename the dish and disappoint your guests who were expecting tiny birds.
  • ✨ Make extra couscous - it's physically impossible to make just enough couscous.