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 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 accomplished in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
• Juicy hen 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 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 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 the most effective from every little thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous pleased! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add slightly or quite a bit!  And in the event you don’t have bourbon available, we’ve got a straightforward substitute choice for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Hen: Minimize the hen into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless hen thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you need to use hen breasts for a leaner choice.
• Cooking Oil: You need to use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the most effective taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve acquired.
• 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’ll be able to.
• 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-about secure to serve to anybody, however in the event you favor to cook dinner with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with slightly bit vinegar blended in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your customary soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe improvement. Coconut aminos can 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 solely in the event you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and slightly gentle onion chew.

Hen Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless hen thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even in the event you by chance overcook them slightly.

Hen breasts will work too. Simply take into account that they cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them slightly 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 hen whereas it cooks. And don’t fear, many of the alcohol cooks off throughout 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 choice, you’ll be able to nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon hen with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar blended in. It provides an analogous 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 straightforward to toss and stir every little thing collectively with out spilling, and so they assist the sauce cling to each piece of hen. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which implies your hen cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.

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