A couple of weekends ago, we had some guests over and Speedy prepared Silom Sunrise. Fortunately or unfortunately, we ran out of tequila before everyone started to get giggly. A few days later, we bought a new bottle of tequila. I thought I’d baptize it by cooking an entirely new version of drunken chicken.
These chicken legs and thighs were cooked with tequila, grenadine, lime juice, rosemary, star anise and a little light soy sauce. Where did the inspiration come from? From the bottle of tequila and the cocktail drink that inspired Silom Sunrise — Tequila Sunrise. This is a very simple recipe. And there is no bitter taste of alcohol whatsoever because the tequila is allowed to reduce before the rest of the ingredients are added. Trust me, this one is delicious.
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 kg. of chicken thighs and legs
1/4 c. of tequila
1/4 c. of grenadine
1/4 c. of lime juice1
1 tsp. of dried rosemary2
1 star anise
3 tbsps. of light soy sauce
1 tsp. of salt
snipped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- In a non-stick frying pan, lay the chicken pieces skin side down and cook over medium high heat until the skins start to render fat. Cook until the skins are lightly browned then flip them over to brown the other side.
Pour in the tequila, turn up the heat to high and cook uncovered without stirring until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Add the rest of the ingredients, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes, shaking then pan occasionally to make sure that the chicken pieces are well covered with the sauce. If the liquid dries up during cooking, add water, a quarter cup at a time.
During the last five minutes of cooking, remove the cover of the pan, turn up the heat to high and cook uncovered until the sauce is thick and sticky.
For best results, let the chicken sit in the sauce for an hour or so then reheat, garnish with some snipped cilantro and serve.
Did I say it was delicious?
Quick Notes
1I used bottled, the kind used for mixing cocktail drinks, but there’s no reason why you can’t use fresh.
2Use twice as much if using fresh rosemary.
Cooking time (duration): 45 to 55 minutes
Number of servings (yield): 4
what is grenadine? is it easily available?
It’s a red syrup traditionally made with pomegranates. Available in liquor stores.
I was eating this in my mind as I was going through the recipe. Thank you.
HAHA Better cook it, quick!
Connie,where can i find rosemary? And may I know what is that? thanks..
It’s an herb. Easiest is to buy dried. In the supermarket. Comes in small jars.
Hi connie thanks for great recipe my husband and his friend love it.yummy