This Key West Sweet and Sour Chicken brings true island flavor to the home cook. Tender chicken is simmered with onions, honey, and Chef Paul Menta's Old Sour Key Lime Sauce from the Key West Legal Rum Distillery. The result is a bright, restaurant-quality dish that shows off this classic local sauce in the best way.
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Gordan Ramsey and Paul Menta on TV
Paul Menta, chef, cookbook author, and champion kiteboarder, appeared on Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted on May 9, 2024, on National Geographic. If you haven't seen the show yet, click the link and take it look. It's a fun episode with lots of locals and great cooking tips!
Called a true Keys connoisseur by Chef Ramsey, Menta showed Ramsay just how some of the Florida Keys' unique flavors can enliven dishes of fresh-caught grunts and succulent stone crab.
Key West Old Sour Key Lime Sauce
Key West Old Sour Sauce is a classic condiment from the Keys that dates back to 1903. It is a mixture of Key lime juice turbinado sugar, sea salt, and serrano peppers.
You can use the sauce on almost all your savory dishes, including fish, steaks, and salads.
Shelf-stable and mildly spicy, this bottled sauce adds a kick to your food without overpowering, making it a flexible addition to any dish.
The sauce can be picked up in Key West at Key West First Legal Rum Distillery.
What You Need
To make old sour chicken thighs, I'm using skinless chicken thighs. They can be bone-in or boneless-both taste good, though bone-in thighs will take a few more minutes to cook through. You can substitute with chicken breasts
Serves 2 (2 thighs or one breast per serving, about 12 oz.)
Gather the following ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about ¾ pound), excess fat trimmed
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons Key West Old Sour Marinade from Key West First Legal Rum Distillery
- ½ cup chicken stock or broth
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh limes key limes for garnish
How to Make Key Lime Chicken Thighs
- Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- In a 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet or sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering, but not smoking.
- Place the chicken, smooth or skin side down, in the pan. Cook for about 5-6 minutes, until the chicken is cooked halfway.
- Flip the chicken and cook for about 4 minutes, or until just cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Add the sliced onion to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the onions are fragrant and starting to soften.
- Add a tablespoon of honey to the onions and toss. When the honey starts to bubble, push the onions to one side of the pan, add the chicken back to the pan (face down), and distribute the onions over the chicken. (The honey on the pan will caramelize the chicken.)
- Mix 2 tablespoons of Key West Old Sour Key Lime Sauce with ½ cup chicken stock and pour over the chicken. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and top it with the pan juices. Garnish with lime wedges.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some great side dish ideas to serve with Key West Sweet and Old Sour Chicken:
- Steamed Broccoli and Carrots
- Roasted Red Potatoes
- Cuban Spanish Rice and Steamed Basmati rice
- Roasted Cauliflower and Steamed Carrots
- Sautéed Tomatoes with Shallots and White Rice
- Poached Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Meal Ideas:
- Make tacos: Fill warm tortillas with guacamole, sour cream, and diced chicken on top.
- Add to a Salad: You can top a Caesar Salad or green salad with key lime chicken.
- Make a Bowl: Add a cup of steamed rice to a bowl. Add a scoop of Guacamole, Mango Pico de Gallo, and a dollop of sour cream. Top with chicken, and you'll have quite a meal!
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery is a historic rum distillery in Key West, renowned for being the first legal distillery in the city since Prohibition.
Located in an old Coca-Cola bottling plant, the distillery offers visitors a glimpse into the history of rum-making and the opportunity to sample its handcrafted spirits.
The Key West First Legal Rum Distillery produces a variety of rums using natural ingredients, such as Florida sugar cane and local spices, to create unique flavors.
At the distillery, enjoy a tour of the premises, take a class to learn how to make authentic mojitos, and pick up Chef Paul Menta's handmade rum, Old Sour Key Lime Sauce, and other Key West merchandise.
Open daily from 11 am-6 pm, the distillery has 2 bars, and you can get a frozen Piña Colada or an authentic Cuban Mojito.
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery is located at 105 Simonton St, off Duval Steet, in Key West, Florida.
FAQ
Pick up Key West Old Sour Sauce at the Key West Legal Rum Distillary at 105 Simonton Street in Key West, Florida.
The Conch Republic is a tongue-in-cheek "nation" Key West declared in 1982. Locals did it to push back against a federal roadblock that slowed traffic coming into the island. The protest worked, and the Conch Republic became part of Key West's story. Today, you'll see flags, shirts, and an annual celebration that keeps the spirit alive.
Not really. The island is small and easy to get around on foot, bike, or scooter. If you have a car, parking can be tight, especially near Old Town
Yes. You can drive straight from Miami down U.S. 1 over a long chain of islands and bridges. It's one of the prettiest drives in the country.
Key West Sweet and Sour Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons Key West Old Sour Key Lime Sauce
- ½ cup chicken stock or broth
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh limes or key limes for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- In a 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet or sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Place the chicken, smooth or skin side down, in the pan. Cook for about 5-6 minutes, until the chicken is cooked halfway.
- Flip the chicken and cook for about 4 minutes, or until just cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Add the sliced onion to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the onions are fragrant and starting to soften.
- Add a tablespoon of honey to the onions and toss. When the honey starts to bubble, push the onions to one side of the pan, add the chicken back to the pan (face down), and distribute the onions over the chicken. (The honey on the pan will caramelize the chicken.)
- Mix 2 tablespoons of Key West Old Sour Key Lime Sauce with ½ cup chicken stock and pour over the chicken. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and top it with the pan juices. Garnish with lime wedges.
Alyssa Jordan says
I can't wait to try this!