Roast Cornish Game Hens with Pomegranate Sauce

FOR THE SAUCE:
Spread sugar evenly over bottom of heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar starts to melt in large pools, about 5 minutes. Stir with wooden spoon until sugar is fully dissolved and syrup is deep amber color, about 3 minutes longer. Add 2 1/2 cups broth and 2 1/2 cups pomegranate juice and bring just to boil, scraping up hard caramel bits. Set mixture aside.

Spray a large heavy pot with nonstick spray. Heat oil in pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken wings in batches and saute until deep brown, about 5 minutes per side, transferring wings to bowl after each batch. Add onions, carrot, celery and bay leaves to same pot. Saute until tender and just golden, about 8 minutes. Add remaining 4 cups broth, pomegranate mixture, chicken wings, cinnamon stick and allspice to pot; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered 1 hour 30 minutes. Strain into large bowl, pressing on solids in strainer. Refrigerate stock overnight.

Spoon all fat off top of stock; reserve fat. Warm stock in microwave. Heat 3 tablespoons reserved fat in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in matzo cake meal, cook 1 minute. Add stock and bring to boil, whisking often. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is reduced to 3 cups, skimming often, about 35 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper.

DO-AHEAD TIP:
Can be made 5 days ahead. Cool, cover and chill.

FOR THE HENS:
Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or foil; spray with nonstick spray. Blend pomegranate juice, olive oil, bay leaves and allspice in blender until bay leaves are finely chopped for baste. Sprinkle hens inside and out with salt and pepper. Fold wing tips under, if desired. Arrange 4 hens on each prepared sheet. Brush each generously with baste. Roast hens until brown and juices from thigh run clear when pierced with small skewer, brushing occasionally with baste and reversing sheets to opposite rack halfway, about 1 hour. Let stand on sheets 15 minutes.

Rewarm sauce. Place hens on plates; serve with sauce.