Saucy Bourbon Hen – The Keep At Dwelling Chef

We are able to’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 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 achieved in half-hour which is even sooner 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 without doubt one of the finest cities on this planet for meals with taste. It’s a spot the place a bunch of various cuisines have fused collectively to create among 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 all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous completely happy! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add somewhat or rather a lot!  And in case you don’t have bourbon readily available, we’ve got a straightforward substitute possibility 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 possibility.
• Cooking Oil: You should utilize 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 bought.
• Sesame Oil: Positioned 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 possibility permits you to 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 gentle or darkish brown sugar.
• Bourbon: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about secure to serve to anybody, however in case you choose to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with somewhat bit vinegar blended in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an effective possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your commonplace soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos may 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 fully in case you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of shade and somewhat delicate onion chew.

Hen Choices

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

Hen breasts will work too. Simply remember that they prepare dinner sooner and might dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them somewhat extra carefully 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 hen 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-about completely secure to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free possibility, 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 offers the same 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 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 rapidly and evenly, which suggests your hen cooks quick and your sauce reduces fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job achieved. Simply be certain it’s giant sufficient to offer all the pieces somewhat area so the hen sears as an alternative of steams. Use what you’ve bought, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.