Food & Cooking Recipes Dinner Recipes Spatchcocked Cornish Game Hens with Lemon and Olive Relish 2.2 (17) Add your rating & review By Martha Stewart Test Kitchen Martha Stewart Test Kitchen The recipes developed by our test kitchen team have undergone a rigorous process of development and testing, ensuring that every element is optimal, from ingredient amounts to method and cooking time. This process includes triple-testing recipes to ensure they meet our high standards. The many stellar cooks and food editors who have been part of our team include Sarah Carey, Lucinda Scala Quinn, Jennifer Aaronson, Shira Bocar, Anna Kovel, Greg Lofts, Riley Wofford, Lauren Tyrell, and Lindsay Leopold. Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 28, 2013 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Servings: 4 This simple and delicious recipe for spatchcocked Cornish game hens with lemon and olive relish is from "The Martha Stewart Show" TV kitchen. The term "spatchcocked" means the chicken or game bird has been split down the back, opened out and grilled flat. Ingredients Zest of one lemon 4 cloves garlic, smashed 2 teaspoons coarse salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 Cornish game hens, approximately ¾ to 1 pound each, wing tips removed Lemon and Olive Relish Directions In a small bowl, combine lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Divide mixture between 2 large resealable plastic bags. Place 2 hens in each bag and seal. Turn to coat hens with marinade. Let marinate, refrigerated, at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours. Preheat a grill pan or a grill over high heat. Remove hens from marinade, wiping off any excess zest or garlic. Cut along each side of the backbone to remove it. Place hen, breast side up, on a cutting board. Flatten with the palm of your hand to break the breastbone and collapse the hen. Make a small incision between each leg and bottom end of the breastbone and pass the ends of the legs through the incisions to hold them in place. Repeat with remaining hens. Place hens, skin side down, on grill and immediately reduce heat to low. Place a brick or heavy cast iron pan on top of each hen and grill, rotating frequently, about 15 minutes. Turn hens over and grill until cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon and olive relish. Rate it Print