Three Chicken Wing recipes, for Football season and beyond

Apparently, its football season in the US of A. Well, in my home, football season never goes away for my husband. Whether accompanied my sticky, juicy wings or not. Thanks to food52, I’ve risen to the occasion to bond with my American friends and come up with a few recipes. It doesn’t matter that these recipes may never see the light of ‘winning’ day. What does count is the advancement of global flavours, from Japan to Thailand and the Middle East.

IMG_3140But before I get to the heart of the matter, I need to laugh and vent a bit.

IMG_3141So, my husband and I were driving home one day from a place I can’t even remember when he suddenly starts telling me about his ‘memory’ issues. Apparently, he has selective memory…but I knew that already. But he apparently, thinks its something to do with his genetic makeup, for he can hardly remember names, faces, times, prices from one day to the next. All the while he spoke, I was holding myself back, biting my tongue…seriously hearing him out till I made a reference to the ’64 World Cup match  to which he responded – there was no World Cup in 64, it was in ’62 and Brazil won. He went on to say, Brazil won ’58, ’62, ’70 and…….. All this from someone who apparently has an issue with recollecting things.

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I sniggered, point made. We remember those things we want to remember, those things we classify and file away as important. Ok, not always…but mostly. Needless to say, he’s as much a ‘footie’ as I am a ‘foodie’.

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Recipe #1: Yuzu Chicken Wings (if you peer hard, you’ll see my reflection to the right of the plate!)

Makes 10 wing pieces

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Ingredients
 
For the wings
3 tablespoons Kikkoman’s soy sauce
1 tablespoon sake/dry sherry
3 tablespoons mirin
2 tablespoons caster sugar
3 tablespoons yuzu zest (I used freeze dried – great if you can get fresh)
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 cup chicken stock
Mix of 1 tablespoon cornflour & 2 tablespoons water
5 wings, mine were tipless (I cut into flats and drumettes, making 10 pieces)
 
For the Yuzukosho
3 red bird’s eyes chillies,deseeded and roughly chopped with kitchen scissors
2 tablespoons (freeze-dried) yuzu zest
1 teapsoon maldon/sea salt
 

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For the Japanese Mayo
3 teaspoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons Hellman’s mayonnaise
1 tablespoon thick Greek/Turkish yogurt
1 teaspoon mirin
Salt & pepper to taste/garnish
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How to
For the wings
  1. Combine the soy sauce, sake/dry sherry, mirin, sugar, yuzu zest, ginger and chicken stock in a pan. Bring to the boil and let simmer for 5 minutes. Then in the last minute, add cornflour mixture, let cook for a minute then take off heat. Allow to cool completely.
  2. While the marinade is cooling, gently poke the wings with the tip of a sharp knife, making little slits so the marinade can find nooks to hide itself.
  3. Once marinade is cold, pour in a large bowl and add chicken. using a spoon, mix wells o chicken pieces are coated well with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  4. To cook, remove chicken from marinade (and discard marinade or cook for 5 – 10 minutes should you wish to sauce) and place on a tray. Roast in the centre of a (pre-heated) oven at 250 degrees centigrade for 25 – 30 minutes, until darkened bronze and glazed.
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Serve with the Japanese mayo dip.
 
For the yuzukosho
In a mortar, combine the chopped red chilies, yuzu zest and salt and gently pound till you get a paste. Set aside for mixing into the mayo.
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For the Mayo
  1. Combine the yuzukosho and rice vinegar in a glass bowl. Let sit for a few minutes. Stir to loosen the paste and combine it with the vinegar.
  2. Add the mayo, yogurt and mirin to the yuzukosho-vinegar mix and stir well to combine. Adjust seasoning as required. Serve with chicken wings
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Recipe #2: Coriander and Makrut Lime wings
Ingredients
5 wings sans tips, cut into flats and drumettes
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Sea salt, to taste
1 teaspoon caster sugar
10 – 12 whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
A handful cilantro leaves, washed and dried
1/3 cup flavourless oil
1 fresh green chili
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 Makrut limes, zested and quartered

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How to

Put the chicken wings in a bowl and poke with a sharp knife to make slits, which will encourage the marinade to go deeper. Combine the lemon juice, zest, sugar and salt and stir till solids are mostly dissolved. Pour this lemon mixture over the chicken and mix properly so each piece is coated.
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Set aside for 5 – 10 minutes. In the mean time, toast the seeds. Start with the larger ones – peppercorns and coriander and toast for a minute or two, then add the cumin. Let toast for another minute or till you start to get whiffs of earthy scents. Take off heat and crush in a mortar and pestle. It doesn’t have to be ‘table salt fine’. Sprinkle spices over the chicken pieces and mix well so each chicken piece is covered with the spices.
Set your kettle to boil. Once boiled, dip the cilantro leaves in for 30 seconds and then remove and refresh in a bowl of cold water. Remove leaves and squeeze water out. Place coriander leaves, oil, chili, onion and garlic powder in a blender or food processor and blitz till fine and leaves are itty bitty.

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Mix coriander puree with Makrut lime zest and quarters till well combined. Check for salt and then pour over chicken. Stir well and let marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

 

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When you’re ready to cook, remove chicken from marinade and heat oven to the highest (250 deg centigrade) and bake chicken in the centre of the oven for 25 minutes, or till ready.
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Recipe # 3: Za’atar wings with herbed yogurt dipIngredientsZa’atar mix
5 teaspoons sumac
4 teaspoons almond meal, gently toasted or left raw
2 teaspoons dried mint
1 teaspoon dried thyme 

Za’atar wings
1/2 cup thick Greek/Turkish yogurt
2 teaspoons za’atar (and more to top)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cardamom powder (or crushed seeds of 12 pods)
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons (nut) honey (I used a homemade hazelnut honey)
5 wings, mine were tipless (I cut into flats and drumettes, making 10 pieces)
Salt and pepper, to taste
 
How to
To make za’atar mix
Combine the sumac, almond meal, dried mint and dried thyme in a spice grinder and blitz till fine(r). Store in an airtight jar or refrigerate – keeps for weeks.
 
To make za’atar wings
  1. Combine the marinade ingredients in a large bowl- yogurt, za’atar, garlic and onion powders, cardamom, salt, olive oil and honey. Whisk and check for salt, adjusting as necessary
  2. Gently poke the wings with the tip of a sharp knife, making little slits so the marinade can find nooks to hide itself.
  3. Put the chicken pieces into the marinade and toss well so that all pieces are coated. I prefer to use a long, shallow container because I can distribute the marinade evenly and ensure each piece is coated.
  4. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours, or overnight
  5. To cook, remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade. Place on a tray and roast/bake in the centre of a (pre-heated) oven at 250 degrees centigrade for 25 – 30 minutes until cooked. My pieces didn’t darken considerably but I leave it up to you to chose your shade of brown.
  6. Sprinkle a touch of za’ atar before serving, if you like. Enjoy regardless.
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Herbed yogurt dip

Ingredients
50 g fresh coriander leaves, washed and roughly chopped
25 g fresh mint leaves, washed and roughly chopped
1 clove of garlic, without skin
1 small green chili pepper, snipped with kitchen scissors
1 -2 teaspoons of caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt and more to taste
Enough natural yogurt (I used Turkish yogurt, similar to Greek yogurt) to form a thick dip
 

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How to
In a mortar, combine all the ingredients except the yogurt. Pound till leaves darken and ingredients form a wet paste.Stir with a spoon/pound further to ensure no large lumps of chili remain. Then add the yogurt and combine well to your required thickness.
 

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Check for salt and sugar (yes, sugar) and adjust to your taste.
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Can be refrigerated for a couple of days. Serve with the wings.

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We enjoyed all the chicken wings – my faves – the yuzu wings. I can imagine just how they would taste if I used fresh yuzu zest!  Take care and thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend too.

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// [wpurp-searchable-recipe]Three Chicken Wing recipes, for Football season and beyond – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

25 Comments

  1. I’ve been cooking chicken wings for 7 years….mostly Hot wings! You have inspired me to try some new and intriguing recipes. I will send you some of my creations in the near future.

  2. Hmm, I liked the Japanese Mayo best, Its easy to remember because my favorite football team had a Japanese player once. I enjoyed it with fries and ketchup.
    I forgive my wife since she did not commit a foul by calling football, soccer.

  3. How do you find the time?? Planning, shopping, preparing, making beautiful photos, posting them, sharing your processes and thoughts…you are amazing! I just love your posts. You inspire me to try to cook at least something a little “out of my box” tonight. LUV!

    • Hi dearie – time. First of all it used to be going late to bed but I don’t do a lot of that these days. Just too much going on. I build my experiments round the weekly shops or what’s left over in the pantry that needs using up.

      Sometimes, this takes a good few days to co-ordinate. I usually cook and photograph same day, write the post a few days later and often the scribblings take 2/3 days to finish off. Most times I know exactly what I want the backstory to be and I’ll often write it down in my notebook then type it up later. Many parts….Thank you for your support dearie. ♥ & XXXs

  4. memory issue, oh please don’t get me started…hubby is horrible

    I love these wings, we are HUGE football fans and every sunday we cook up some fab treats for the game, these would be perfect. The yuzu are my fav, perfect for a day of intense yelling at the TV..lol
    have a great weekend
    sweetlife

    • mademoielle d – like the ‘kid’ lesson, tucked away in your comment. Mine are getting proficient at eating wings…my kidlets are.

      Sweetlife, thanks

  5. These look so good. I was trying to think up some new flavors for chicken wings. I think yours are fantastic. The dipping sauce are wonderful. I have some za’atar seasoning just waiting to be used….maybe this weekend!

    • Valerie, I liked the yuzu a lot and the za’atar too. And the coriander and lime. Husband went too for the yuzu!!!

      Anna, hang no heads in shame, yours or your mans. For us football season is never-ending and is rarely graced with any ceremony so this is an outstep!

      OysterC, glad to hear all the female voices unite :-).

      Thanks Lyndsey

  6. I think the memory issue may be in the genetic makeup of husbands. Mine suffers the same malady.

    On another note, these wings look absolutely amazing. I’m afraid if I made them I’d not be able to stop eating.

  7. Should I hang my head in shame? We don’t ‘do’ football season in my home… but these would go a treat when indulging in a movie marathon right!!!!!?? Seriously, love the flavours in this. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  8. The yuzu also look like they taste the best… the the za’atar would also be yummy. The lime didn’t crisp up enough for me. However, what a culinary adventure you engaged in. Bravo! I wonder if your busband will remember which one he liked the best.
    🙂
    Valerie

  9. Men…don’t let me get started. When Football season arrives – I lock him in the bedroom so he can scream all he wants. My neighbors think I am torturing him.

    These wings look so delicious. Thanks for sharing.

    • Thanks wicked noodle.

      Welcome back to the world of ‘kip'(chicken a la Dutch)

      Rhonda, glad you concur!!!!!!!!

      Norma :-(, what a great plan – the football lock up!

  10. Your husband was right it is a genetic thing, a male genetic thing to be exact. My husband seems to have the same type of memory loss! I love all the different wing recipes, a far cry from our usual American Buffalo wings! Right up my alley. Next football game they are going on my menu.

  11. Can I tell you how much I’m drooling right now! I just started eating chicken again (I’ve been a veg head for a few years) and now all I want to do is make myself a batch of wings! Thanks for sharing the deliciousness!

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