Saucy Bourbon Hen – The Keep At Dwelling Che...

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 performed 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 without doubt one of the greatest cities on this 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 greatest 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 thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous completely satisfied! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add slightly or loads!  And should you don’t have bourbon available, we now have 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 should 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 gives the most effective taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve received.
• Sesame Oil: Situated within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go together 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 an incredible 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: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about protected to serve to anybody, however should you desire to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can 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 may also 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 fully should you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and slightly gentle onion chunk.

Hen Choices

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

Hen breasts will work too. Simply understand that they cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them slightly extra intently and purpose to drag 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 through the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought-about 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 blended 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 simple to toss and stir every 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 performed. Simply be certain it’s giant sufficient to provide every thing slightly area so the hen sears as an alternative of steams. Use what you’ve received, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.