Using a microplane, remove a tablespoon of zest from the citrus fruits. Pour the salt into a mortar and pestle and add the zest. Muddle the two together and transfer to a bowl.
1 pomelo , 1 navel orange, 1 cara cara orange, 1 meyer lemon, 1 lime, 2 tbsp kosher salt
Place a small cooling rack inside a small baking sheet. Place the hens on the rack and coat them thoroughly in the salt mixture. Make sure to salt the inside of the cavity.
2 cornish game hens
Transfer the hens to the fridge and let them sit uncovered for 12-24 hours. They should look rosy and feel tacky to the touch at the end of the dry brining process.
Take the hens out of the fridge and allow them to come up to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a roasting pan with olive oil.
2 tbsp olive oil
Transfer the hens to the pan and pop them into the oven. Let roast for 30 minutes. Take the hens out of the oven and brush them all over with the butter. Place them back in the oven and roast for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the thickest part of the breast reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
2 tbsp unsalted butter
While the hens are roasting, segment the pomelo and oranges you zested earlier. Squeeze the remaining citrus innards to release their juice. You should have about 1/2 cup of juice in the end. Set it aside.
Once the hens are done, take them out of their roasting pan and place them on a plate or large cutting board. Loosely tent them with foil.
Place the roasting pan on the stove over medium heat. Whisk in the chicken stock and deglaze the pan. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Add the flour and whisk until no lumps remain.
1 cup chicken stock, 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
Pour the gravy into a large skillet and add the citrus juice you collected earlier and the juice of the Meyer lemon. Simmer the gravy over low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes.
Place the hens on a platter and arrange the citrus segments around them. Decorate the platter with pomegranate arils and mint leaves. Serve immediately.
Pomegranate arils, Fresh mint leaves
