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

New Orleans is among the greatest cities on the earth for meals with taste. It’s a spot the place a bunch of various cuisines have fused collectively to create among 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 perfect from every little thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous blissful! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a little bit or lots!  And when you don’t have bourbon available, we have now a straightforward substitute choice for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Hen: Reduce 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 should use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the perfect 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 permits you to greatest management the flavour—it’s an important 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 gentle 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 desire to cook dinner with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with a little bit bit vinegar blended in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your normal soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe improvement. Coconut aminos will also be used.
• Crimson Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to convey extra warmth, or go away it out totally when you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of colour and a little bit delicate onion chunk.

Hen Choices

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

Hen breasts will work too. Simply remember that they cook dinner quicker and may dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them a little bit extra intently and intention 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 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, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of hen. It additionally heats up shortly and evenly, which suggests your hen cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.

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