Indonesia - Butterfly Cornish Game Hen (Ayam Masak Aceh)

Butterfly Cornish Game Hen 

(Ayam Masak Aceh) 

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

-       2 Cornish game hens, about 1 -1/3 pounds each

-       4 Shallots sliced

-       2 Garlic cloves, sliced

-       1 tb Ground coriander

-       3 To 7 fresh hot red chiles, -seeded, sliced

-       1/2 Piece fresh ginger, sliced

-       1/4 ts Ground turmeric

-       Salt to taste

-       2 tb Lime juice

-       2 c Coconut milk

-       2 Stalks lemon grass or 1 -slice lemon

Directions

-       Split open the game hens from the breast side and flatten them out into a butterfly shape.

-       Discard loose skin and fat.

-       Broil the hens for 3 minutes on each side.

-       Process the shallots, garlic, coriander, chile, ginger, turmeric, salt, lime juice and 1/2 cup of the coconut milk to a smooth sauce. Marinate the hens in the sauce for 15 minutes.

-       Put the hens in a large skillet and cook over moderate heat for 10 minutes uncovered.

-       Then add the remaining coconut milk and the lemon grass.

-       Bring to a boil and cook for 30 minutes, basting occasionally, until the hens are tender and almost all the liquid has evaporated.

Serve warm.