Saucy Bourbon Hen – The Keep At Dwelling Chef

We will’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 an entire meal that’s prepared in half-hour.

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

Why Our Recipe

• Candy, sticky, and performed in half-hour which is even quicker than takeout.
• Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that may depart 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 among the greatest flavors. This one is a fusion of Cajun and Chinese language cooking and Cajun delicacies itself is a mixture of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes one of the best from every thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous completely satisfied! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a little bit or quite a bit!  And should you don’t have bourbon available, we’ve a straightforward substitute choice for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Hen: Reduce 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 choice.
• Cooking Oil: You should utilize any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic supplies one of the best taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve bought.
• Sesame Oil: Positioned within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go along 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 choice means that you can greatest management the flavour—it’s a terrific chef tip.
• Orange Juice: Provides a sweetness and tang to the sauce. No want for freshly squeezed, however you may.
• Brown Sugar: Provides caramelization, will increase the sweetness, and balances out the orange juice and bourbon. Use gentle or darkish brown sugar.
• Bourbon: The vast majority of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought of secure to serve to anybody, however should you want to cook dinner with out alcohol, you may substitute with apple juice with a little bit bit vinegar combined in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an effective choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your normal soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe improvement. Coconut aminos can be used.
• Crimson Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to deliver extra warmth, or depart it out completely should you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and a little bit delicate onion chunk.

Hen Choices

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

Hen breasts will work too. Simply understand that they cook dinner quicker and might dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them a little bit extra carefully and goal to tug 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 throughout the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought of completely secure to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free choice, you may nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon rooster with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar combined 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, however it’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it straightforward to toss and stir every thing collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which suggests your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job performed. Simply be certain it’s massive sufficient to present every thing a little bit area so the rooster sears as an alternative of steams. Use what you’ve bought, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.