Cajun Bourbon Chicken - Is It Really Cajun Cooking?
Cajun cooking was born of necessity. When the British caused the Acadians to abandon Nova Scotia in 1785, there were approximately 1600 that had to find somewhere else to live. They ended up in Louisiana and the major source of food was from fishing, farming and hunting.
When the Cajuns settled in Louisiana they were not met with hospitality. They were looked down upon by the French Aristocracy. The swampy areas were where they had to settle due to this treatment. Although they basically had been eating what the Aristocracy ate, this move caused them to have to adapt the recipes they knew and use things that were available. So they adapted the recipes to what they had or could grow and this developed into Cajun cooking.
Because they sold a great deal of what they raised or caught, the Cajuns, as they became known learned how to create dishes out of the leftover goods to feed their families. At this time families were quite large and the amount of food fixed had to be enough to feed everyone. This necessity caused Cajuns to mix rice with almost everything eaten. Cajun Chicken was one of the dishes they found easy to prepare and was enough to feed the large families.
Using what was available such as seafood, chicken, turtle and alligator many Cajun recipes were born. The use of a roux and the fat from whatever type of meat is being fixed; the ingredients and seasonings are what make the Cajun dish so different and tasty. Although many people associate Cajun food with spiciness and being hot, this is not necessarily true. The use of spices is a part of the seasoning but the true Cajun recipes used the spices for the taste, not to add heat to the dish.
So Cajun is a combination of Southern and French cooking. Cajun Bourbon Chicken is made of chicken soaked in Bourbon and the Cajun spices are added. The origins of this type of chicken are not agreed upon by very many people. Some say it is from Kentucky. Others say it was named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The marinade used for soaking the chicken is normally sugar, soy sauce and whiskey. This may be the reason for the name rather than any of the other reasons.
The confusion is due to the differences between the two names. Bourbon chicken and Cajun bourbon chicken do not use exactly the same ingredients. While the ingredients used in Bourbon chicken are also used in Cajun Bourbon chicken, there are a few things added to Bourbon Cajun chicken and this will vary according to the cook. The addition of Cajun Seasoning is not used in Bourbon Chicken. This can be the type you buy in the store or if your roots are Cajun, it can be whatever ingredients handed down by your mother or grandmother.
Irregardless of the origins of Cajun Bourbon chicken, one thing everyone agrees on is the taste. It is delicious and has a flavor all its own. This is why it is made using different variations all over the country.
For a great Cajun Bourbon Chicken recipe, visit www.Cooking-New-Orleans-Style.com Dianna Eure Smith is a Cajun cooking enthusiast, has published articles and e-books in the family, home, fitness, business and cooking categories, and is author of "Cajun Cooking News".
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Food & Beverage Articles Via RSS!
