Honey and Coconut-Marinated Cornish Hens

Ingredients

• 2.5 pound cornish game hens 
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce 
• 0.3 cup cilantro leaves fresh chopped
• 1 tablespoon ginger fresh grated peeled
• 2  garlic clove 
• 0.3 cup honey divided
• 0.3 cup lemon grass fresh peeled chopped
• 0.3 cup lite coconut milk light
• 1 tablespoon thai chile 

Equipment

• sauce pan
• oven
• blender
• kitchen thermometer
• ziploc bags
• broiler pan

Directions

1. Remove and discard giblets and necks from hens. Rinse hens with cold water; pat dry. Split hens in half lengthwise.
2. Remove skin; trim excess fat.
3. Place cilantro, lemongrass, coconut milk, 3 tablespoons honey, fish sauce, and remaining ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into a large zip-top plastic bag.
5. Add hen halves; seal and marinate in refrigerator 12 hours or overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 40
7. Remove hen halves from bag, reserving marinade.
8. Place reserved marinade in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Place hen halves, meaty sides up, on a broiler pan. Insert a meat thermometer into meaty part of a thigh, making sure not to touch bone.
11. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes, basting frequently with the reserved marinade.
12. Brush remaining 1 tablespoon honey over hens, and bake hens an additional 20 minutes or until thermometer registers 180.