Saucy Bourbon Hen – The Keep At Residence Chef

We will’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Hen and neither will you. This tangy, spicy but candy sauce is the actual 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, 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 can go away you eager to lick the plate clear.
• Devour it plain or serve it over steamed rice, chow mein, or rice noodles.

New Orleans is likely one of the finest cities on the earth for meals with taste. It’s a spot the place a bunch of various cuisines have fused collectively to create a few of the finest 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 the most effective from every thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous blissful! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add slightly or so much!  And if you happen to don’t have bourbon available, now we have 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 use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic supplies the most effective taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve obtained.
• Sesame Oil: Situated 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 finest 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 mild or darkish brown sugar.
• Bourbon: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought of secure to serve to anybody, however if you happen to desire to cook dinner with out alcohol, you may substitute with apple juice with slightly bit vinegar blended 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 may also be used.
• Pink Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to deliver extra warmth, or go away it out totally if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and slightly delicate onion chew.

Hen Choices

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

Hen breasts will work too. Simply remember the fact that they cook dinner quicker and might dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them slightly extra intently and intention to drag them off the warmth as quickly as they hit 165°F.

Cooking with Bourbon

Bourbon is what offers 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 blended in. It offers 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 implies your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job performed. Simply ensure that it’s massive sufficient to offer every thing slightly house so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve obtained, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.