Saucy Bourbon Hen – The Keep At House 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 finished in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
• Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that may 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 number of the finest 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 one of the best from every little thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous comfortable! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a little bit or so much!  And when you don’t have bourbon readily available, we now have a simple substitute possibility 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 utilize 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 gives one of the best 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 possibility lets you finest management the flavour—it’s an excellent 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 mild or darkish brown sugar.
• Bourbon: The vast majority of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about secure to serve to anybody, however when you want to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with a little bit bit vinegar combined in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your commonplace 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 carry extra warmth, or go away it out completely when you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of coloration and a little bit gentle onion chunk.

Hen Choices

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

Hen breasts will work too. Simply remember that they cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them a little bit extra intently 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, many of the alcohol cooks off through the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought-about completely secure 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 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, nevertheless it’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it straightforward to toss and stir every little thing collectively with out spilling, and so they 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 fantastically with out burning.

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