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

Why Our Recipe

• Candy, sticky, and accomplished in half-hour which is even quicker than takeout.
• Juicy hen smothered in a sauce that can 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 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 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 very best from all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous glad! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a bit of or so much!  And if you happen to don’t have bourbon available, we’ve a straightforward substitute choice for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Hen: Lower the hen into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless hen thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you should utilize hen breasts for a leaner choice.
• 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 acquired.
• Sesame Oil: Situated within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go together with untoasted right here as a result of we prepare dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice lets you finest management the flavour—it’s a fantastic 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: The vast majority of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought of protected to serve to anybody, however if you happen to want to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with a bit of bit vinegar combined in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an effective choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your commonplace soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos can 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: Offers a pop of colour and a bit of delicate onion chew.

Hen Choices

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

Hen breasts will work too. Simply remember that they prepare dinner quicker and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them a bit of extra carefully and goal 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 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 of completely protected to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free choice, you possibly can nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon hen with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar combined 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 simple to toss and stir all the pieces collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of hen. It additionally heats up shortly 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 ensure it’s massive sufficient to provide all the pieces a bit of house so the hen sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve acquired, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.