Saucy Bourbon Hen – The Keep At House Chef

We are able to’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Hen and neither will you. This tangy, spicy but candy sauce is the true star of the present right here. Serve it up with white rice or chow mein noodles, and add steamed veggies for a whole meal that’s prepared in half-hour.

For extra Bourbon recipes, strive Chef Cayt’s Famous Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Why Our Recipe

• Candy, sticky, and finished in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
• Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that may go away you desirous to lick the plate clear.
• Devour it plain or serve it over steamed rice, chow mein, or rice noodles.

New Orleans is without doubt one of the greatest cities on the planet for meals with taste. It’s a spot the place a bunch of various cuisines have fused collectively to create a number of the greatest flavors. This one is a fusion of Cajun and Chinese language cooking and Cajun delicacies itself is a mix of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes the very best from every little thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous blissful! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add somewhat or loads!  And when you don’t have bourbon available, we’ve a simple substitute possibility for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Hen: Lower the rooster into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless rooster thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you should use rooster breasts for a leaner possibility.
• Cooking Oil: You should use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the very best taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve obtained.
• Sesame Oil: Positioned within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go together with untoasted right here as a result of we cook dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility lets you greatest management the flavour—it’s an incredible chef tip.
• Orange Juice: Provides a sweetness and tang to the sauce. No want for freshly squeezed, however you possibly can.
• Brown Sugar: Provides caramelization, will increase the sweetness, and balances out the orange juice and bourbon. Use gentle or darkish brown sugar.
• Bourbon: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about protected to serve to anybody, however when you choose to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with somewhat bit vinegar blended in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your normal soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe improvement. Coconut aminos will also be used.
• Pink Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to convey extra warmth, or go away it out completely when you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of colour and somewhat delicate onion chew.

Hen Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless rooster thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even when you by accident overcook them somewhat.

Hen breasts will work too. Simply needless to say they cook dinner sooner and might dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them somewhat extra intently and goal to drag them off the warmth as quickly as they hit 165°F.

Cooking with Bourbon

Bourbon is what provides this dish its signature taste. It provides a slight smokiness and sweetness. It additionally helps tenderize the rooster whereas it cooks. And don’t fear, a lot of the alcohol cooks off in the course of the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought-about completely protected to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free possibility, you possibly can nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon rooster with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar blended in. It provides an identical sweetness with just a bit fruitiness and the vinegar mimics the bitter punch of alcohol.

Wok or Skillet

Chef Cayt loves utilizing a wok for saucy recipes like this one, but it surely’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it simple to toss and stir every little thing collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which implies your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job finished. Simply make sure that it’s massive sufficient to present every little thing somewhat area so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve obtained, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.