Saucy Bourbon Rooster – The Keep At House Chef

We are able to’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Rooster and neither will you. This tangy, spicy but candy sauce is the actual 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.

New Orleans is likely 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 a few 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 one of the best from every little 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 a bit of or quite a bit!  And should you don’t have bourbon available, we now have a straightforward substitute possibility for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Rooster: 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 possibility.
• Cooking Oil: You need to use 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 obtained.
• Sesame Oil: Positioned 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.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility lets you finest 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’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 should you favor to cook dinner with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with a bit of bit vinegar blended in.
• Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an effective possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your normal soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos can be used.
• Crimson Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to carry extra warmth, or depart it out solely should you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of colour and a bit of gentle onion chunk.

Rooster Choices

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

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply remember that they cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them a bit of extra intently and intention 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, a lot of the alcohol cooks off in the course of 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’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 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 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 executed. Simply make certain it’s massive sufficient to provide every little thing a bit of area so the hen sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve obtained, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.