Hoisin Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
My husband & I went out on a date a few weeks ago to a local farm-to-table restaurant in the town next to ours. I love local restaurants, not only for the benefit to small business owners, but also for the quaint atmosphere & relationships you can make with the owner & employees.
I especially love farm-to-table restaurants. By the time I lay out all my allergies & preferences to the server, I’m not always left with a lot on the menu that I can or will eat. Which is why having a chef in the kitchen who is creative & understands how to change & pair foods is all the more important. While this can be done at a chain restaurant, it’s so much more fun at a small one. I typically give them my parameters & tell the chef to surprise me with the rest. Because of this, I have gotten to eat so many things I never would’ve tried.
On this particular evening, the chef sent out gluten-free, hoisin Brussels Sprouts. OH MY, they were UH-MAZING! I had never eaten hoisin sauce before that I can recall & I became obsessed with it.
I immediately started my quest to create the perfect hoisin sauce to make those Brussels Sprouts at home. After a few times, of making the veggie dish, I decided I wanted hoisin chicken as well & the recipe for this chicken & Brussels sprouts meal was born.
If you have never tried hoisin sauce, I’m pretty sure you will quickly become a fan & if you’re already in love with it, then this may be your favorite recipe ever.
Hoisin Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
INGREDIENTS
8 pieces chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
1 recipe of hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon chinese 5-spice
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed & cut in half
quality spray oil
freshly ground salt
optional: sesame seeds for garnish
DIRECTIONS
preheat the oven to 450 & spray a large cookie sheet with oil.
combine 3 tablespoons of hoisin sauce with sesame oil, chinese 5-spice, salt & red pepper flakes.
rub the marinade all over the chicken thighs.
place the chicken pieces on the sheet pan & then spread the trimmed brussels sprouts all around the chicken. give it all another light spray of oil.
bake 20 minutes in the top half of the oven.
remove the pan from the oven & lightly sprinkle fresh salt on top of the chicken & brussels, then pour the remaining hoisin sauce over the entire pan.
garnish with sesame seeds.