With tender items of rooster stir-fried in a candy and tangy sauce over a mattress of fluffy steamed rice, nobody complains when sticky Bourbon Hen is on the menu! This simple recipe is a lighter twist on the unique New Orleans Chinese language-American recipe.
Conventional Bourbon rooster is a stir-fry-style recipe that options items of fried rooster thighs in a candy, sticky, and savory brown sugar bourbon glaze.
It tastes candy, a bit of salty, and tangy, just like different well-liked Chinese language-American dishes like Basic Tso Hen and Wholesome Orange Hen.
Whereas the unique recipe originated in New Orleans, nowadays, you will discover Bourbon rooster effectively past the French Quarter.
It’s a frequent menu merchandise at shopping center meals courts and at many Chinese language takeout eating places across the nation.
And with this simple Bourbon rooster recipe, you’ll be able to deliver all of its deliciousness into your very personal kitchen.
5 Star Assessment
“This was completely the perfect Bourbon rooster I’ve ever had. It’s higher than take-out.”
— Becky —
Why Is It Referred to as Bourbon Hen?
Bourbon rooster is called after Bourbon Avenue in New Orleans (that’s additionally why the “Bourbon” in Bourbon rooster” is capitalized).
- Because the story goes, the dish was popularized in a Chinese language restaurant that was situated on Bourbon Avenue.
Bourbon rooster does even have alcohol within the sauce, although most of it cooks off.
- Consistent with the identify, bourbon is utilized in Bourbon rooster. It helps steadiness the sauce and retains it from tasting too candy.
About this Bourbon Hen Recipe
The meals court docket Bourbon rooster recipe you discover in purchasing malls is battered and fried, and the sauce incorporates a hefty quantity of brown sugar and different thriller sweeteners.
- I wished to create Bourbon rooster just like the meals court docket in style and spirit, however I wished mine to be evenly pan-fried as a substitute of deep-fried.
- I additionally wished to scale back the quantity of sugar within the unique Louisiana Bourbon rooster sauce.
- For instance: many genuine Bourbon rooster mall recipes name for 1 full cup of brown sugar or extra, which to me is extra akin to dessert.
With the assistance of my reader-favorite Crockpot Bourbon Hen recipe as a place to begin, I arrived at in the present day’s lighter Bourbon rooster recipe.
The sauce is thick and sticky (the most effective elements of this dish!), the meat is fork tender and juicy, and it has sufficient sweetness to fulfill that meals court docket craving with out going overboard.
The best way to Make Bourbon Hen
The Bourbon rooster sauce makes use of candy, salty, and acidic substances to attain the precise steadiness.
Sometimes, it’s served with rice, although you’ll be able to actually flip it into lettuce wraps, combine in sautéed greens or Roasted Broccoli (what we normally do), or serve it with a crisp salad, like this Asian Cabbage Salad.
The Elements
- Hen Thighs. Bourbon rooster thighs are mouthwateringly juicy! The thigh meat stays tender, is extra flavorful, and gained’t dry out throughout cooking.
- Cornstarch. Cornstarch helps the surface of the rooster brown to imitate the deep-fried unique, and it thickens the sauce.
- Soy Sauce. Offers the sauce a lift of umami taste.
- Bourbon. This recipe’s namesake. Whereas the flavour isn’t sturdy, it helps steadiness the sauce and is the key to the BEST Bourbon rooster with genuine taste.
- Maple Syrup. Helps make the sauce candy, sticky, and scrumptious.
- Brown Sugar. A modest quantity for added sweetness. It additionally helps thicken the sauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. Provides obligatory acidity to the sauce combination.
- Inexperienced Onions. Provides shade, crunch, and a gentle onion taste. Good for a garnish.
TIP!
In search of some further pizzaz? Toss in some sesame seeds for texture and pink pepper flakes for a bit of kick!
The Instructions
- Stir the rooster and a part of the cornstarch collectively.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk the sauce substances and remaining cornstarch collectively.
- Cook dinner the rooster.
- Pour within the sauce and stir. Simmer for two to 4 minutes, then garnish with inexperienced onions. Serve with rice, and ENJOY!
Storage Suggestions
- To Retailer. Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm rooster in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
As much as 1 day upfront, reduce the rooster and retailer it within the fridge till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.
Leftover Concepts
In fact, leftovers are scrumptious served over a mattress of rice or noodles, however they’re additionally tasty served in lettuce leaves (a spin on my beloved Lettuce Wraps).
What to Serve with Bourbon Hen
Whereas a aspect of steamed white or Instantaneous Pot Brown Rice (or Cauliflower Fried Rice) is actually all this dish must really feel full, I usually like to finish our takeout expertise with a number of of those different tasty Asian-inspired aspect dishes or starters.
Advisable Instruments to Make this Recipe
- Liquid Measuring Cup. You’ll be able to measure and blend substances on this glass measuring cup.
- Massive Skillet. Good for making this recipe. May even use a wok!
- Measuring Spoons. This recipe has plenty of substances to measure, and these measuring spoons are up for the job.
My Favourite On a regular basis Skillet
This huge cast-iron skillet is a high-quality, versatile, and easy-to-clean choice. It’s oven-safe, so you should use it for a wide range of completely different recipes.
Often Requested Questions
Many of the alcohol does prepare dinner out of the sauce, however I like to recommend avoiding the recipe if you’re involved about having any consumption in any way (being pregnant, abstaining, and so on.).
Whereas I’m partial to creating this sauce with bourbon (I promise it’s value it!), you would experiment with swapping the bourbon for 1/4 cup apple juice or rooster broth. It is going to have a barely completely different taste however ought to nonetheless be tasty.
It’s a bit of little bit of each! Born in New Orleans at a Chinese language restaurant, the dish is a hybrid that brings collectively the substances and cooking strategies of each cuisines and cultures.
To make this recipe gluten free, you’ll want to choose on your favourite model of tamari quite than conventional soy sauce. Additionally, regardless of many bourbons being distilled with wheat, barley, or rye, most are thought of protected for folks with celiac illness due to the distillation course of. Nevertheless, if you’re notably delicate to gluten or have issues, I like to recommend consulting with a doctor earlier than making this recipe with bourbon.
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten free)
- 1/4 cup bourbon something ok to combine right into a cocktail (Bulleit is my go-to)
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic minced (about 4 teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon recent ginger minced
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 kilos boneless skinless rooster thighs reduce into bite-sized items (or boneless, skinless rooster breast)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil, vegetable oil, or grapeseed oil
- 1/3 cup chopped inexperienced onions plus extra for serving
- 2 cups ready brown rice for serving
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Place the rooster in a medium bowl. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons cornstarch excessive, then with a spoon, stir to evenly coat the rooster within the cornstarch.
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In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, stir collectively the soy sauce, bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch.
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In a big, deep skillet, warmth the oil over medium excessive warmth on the range prime. As soon as the oil is scorching and shimmering, rigorously add the rooster, breaking up any items that stick collectively. Brown on all sides, stirring sometimes, till the rooster is golden and cooked by means of.
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Add the bourbon sauce. Cooking, stirring usually, till the sauce is shiny and thickened, 2 to 4 minutes (you will nonetheless have loads of further sauce, ideally suited for spooning over the rice). Stir within the inexperienced onions. Serve scorching over rice, with extra inexperienced onions sprinkled on prime.
- Tailored from my Crockpot Bourbon Hen.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm rooster in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1(of 4), with out riceEnergy: 359kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 34gFats: 12gSaturated Fats: 2gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 6gTrans Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 162mgPotassium: 525mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 126IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg
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