Saucy Bourbon Rooster – The Keep At House Chef

We will’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 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 likely one of the finest cities on the earth 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 perfect from all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous comfortable! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add somewhat or lots!  And if you happen to don’t have bourbon available, now we have a straightforward substitute choice for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Rooster: 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 utilize any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic supplies the perfect taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve received.
• 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 choice lets you 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: The vast majority of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about protected to serve to anybody, however if you happen to want to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with somewhat 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 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 depart it out fully if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of colour and somewhat delicate onion chew.

Rooster 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 somewhat.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply remember the fact that they cook dinner quicker and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them somewhat extra intently and purpose 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 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 combined 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, nevertheless it’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it simple to toss and stir all the pieces 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 fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job carried out. Simply be certain it’s giant sufficient to offer all the pieces somewhat house so the hen sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve received, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.