Hot wings are a great contemporary snack, first course or can be used as a main entrée. And if you’ve ever gone to a restaurant that served spicy hot wings that were ‘finger-lickin good’, you probably wondered how to make the wings yourself. The trick is just to get a great recipe that makes the taste buds burst with flavor.
Hot wings are economical, they’re easier on your budget than chicken breasts. In fact, if you look carefully at the grocery store, you can sometimes find chicken wings with a generous amount of breast meat. Buying breast quarters and cutting off the wings yourself is more inexpensive than buying a special cut such as wings by themselves.
When considering how to make chicken wings to fit your next meal, there’s a wide range of cooking methods and flavors to consider. This includes baking, deep fat frying, pan frying, barbecuing, broiling, braising, rotisserie and broasting. Sauces and glazes can do wonders to enhance the flavor of the chicken while giving a distinct difference to each recipe.
Here are two versions of hot wings that you and your guests are sure to ask for the recipes:
ZIPPY & ZESTY GRILLED HOT WINGS
- Three to four pounds chicken wings
- Large bottle zesty Italian salad dressing
- One lemon
- Salt and ground black pepper
Rinse the chicken wings, pat dry with a paper towel and place in a large mixing bowl.
Squeeze the juice from half of the lemon into a small bowl and add the Italian dressing. Make sure the lemon juice is blended well with the salad dressing and pour over chicken wings. Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator, for about two hours.
Preheat a grill to medium high. Place the chicken directly over the fire. Pour the marinade into a small container and use to baste the wings every five minutes for the first 15 minutes and then discard the sauce.
Continue grilling, turning frequently until nicely browned and crispy, about 20 minutes total cooking time. Remove from grill and place on a large serving platter. Garnish with sprigs of parsley and fresh lemon wedges.
A vegetable platter and baked or fried sweet potatoes compliments this dish well.
Have you ever considered learning how to make hot wings with an oriental twist? Try this version below:
HONEYED ASIAN SESAME HOT WINGS
Serves 8. Total cooking time: 45 minutes.
2 lbs chicken wings
3 tablespoons cornstarch’
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
3 teaspoons extra cornstarch
1 tablespoon chicken broth (may use canned)
3 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons honey’
4 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Rinse the chicken wings and pat dry. Dust with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, seasoned with salt and pepper. Blend extra cornstarch with chicken broth until smooth.
Heat oil in a large skillet until very hot. Add chicken wings. Cook until golden brown and crispy, turning as needed. Cover with lid and cook another 10 minutes.
Remove chicken wings from skillet and place on a platter. Stir the blended cornstarch into the remaining oil in the skillet, cooking until slightly thickened. Stir in honey and heat again, mixing well. Remove from heat and pour over chicken wings. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Garnish with sprigs of mint and orange slices and it’s ready to serve.
Serve with steamed brown rice, jasmine rice or rice pilaf and a big mixed green salad with candied walnuts or pecans.
