Orange Ginger Thyme Brined Game Hen

Sick of regular roast chicken? Looking for something new to impress the fam bam? Here’s an easy-to-do recipe that’ll give you a delicious falvourful bird. (Sounds like an infomercial doesn’t it?)

That being said, I had a slight mishap with the photos. The bottom line is…..they were not up to scratch. I made this recipe for Spice Month as a simple but delicious recipe highlighting thyme but because I wasn’t happy with the photos I never ended up using it. While I never retook the photos I decided to have a change of heart posting the recipe because at the end of the day the most important thing is is that it’s really really tasty.

So please forgive the photos and trust me when I say “Just Cook It.”

RECIPE:

5lb organic chicken

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 bunch thyme

1/2 an orange

Brine Recipe:

1 gallon water (or more)

1 cup salt

1 bunch of fresh thyme

2 bay leaves

1 cup fresh ginger – chopped

1 large orange – cut in wedges

2 tbsp peppercorns

Brining is my secret weapon to ensure moist and tender birds. It’s a great technique to use especially with Thanksgiving coming up–we can all admit there’s nothing worse than a dry bird!  A wet brine typically uses water and salt sometimes combined with an assortment of herbs and spices for flavor. Submerging chicken (or turnkey) in the flavored salted water for a good 24 hours infuses a ton of flavor and moisture into the flesh so that the bird comes out moist and juicy not dry and flaky.

You’ll want to use a large enough bowl or container for the bird to be fully emerged. Place all brine ingredients in the bowl followed by the chicken. Add more water if necessary to make sure the entire bird is covered. Refrigerate for 24 hours in order to maximize flavor.

DIRECTIONS:

Remove brine from fridge 1 hour before cooking.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Drain the bird and rinse in cold water. Lay on kitchen towel and pat dry. Stuff some kitchen towels in the cavity of the bird to soak up excess water.

Once the bird is reasonably dry, lay on foiled oven tray. Drizzle olive oil all over the skin, sprinkle with S&P and massage seasoned oil into the skin. Stuff the cavity with the thyme and the half orange.

Pour broth on the tray surrounding the chicken and pop in the oven for 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours. This is another one of my special techniques. The broth will help create steam in the oven and along with the brine, it creates a fantastically moist bird.

Once cooked (internal temp 165°F) let rest for 10 minutes before carving. This allows the meat to relax and the keeps the juices in the bird and not all over your cutting board.

NOTE: To check to see if it’s done, cut between the drumstick and the breast and if the juices run clear you’re good to go.

Don’t forget to save your chicken carcass for making homemade chicken stock!

All recipes are made with the finest quality farmers market whole foods, natural and non-processed ingredients as much as possible.