SWEET CHILI CHICKEN WINGS

Whether served as part of a larger meal or enjoyed as a standalone dish, these wings offer a delightful combination of textures and flavors that satisfy cravings for both sweetness and spice. 

Sweet Chili Chicken Wings are believed to be rooted in the fusion of Asian and Western cuisines. While it is challenging to pinpoint the exact origin of this particular dish, its creation represents the creativity and culinary experimentation that arises when different cultures and flavors intersect, resulting in a mouthwatering and internationally beloved treat.

Recipe Notes:

• I used lemongrass in the marinade mixture. Be generous on the lemongrass. It will give you that fragrant aroma for the baked chicken wings.

• I used red chilies in the marinade mixture. To make the chilies less spicy/hot, I removed the seeds from the chilies. You could retain the seeds if you prefer your wings to be spicier and hotter.

• You should marinate the chicken wings for at least 4 hours. I choose to leave this overnight to get the best possible result.

• I am using a fan-forced oven set to 180 deg.C to bake the chicken wings. If you have a conventional oven, the temperature would be 200 deg.C.

• I placed the pan in the lowest rack of the oven and baked the chicken wings for 30 to 35 minutes. This way the chicken wings will turn golden and cook through at the same rate. You wouldn’t want the chicken wings to brown before they are cooked through.

• I placed the sauce mixture in a pot and simmer on MEDIUM heat until about the sauce in the pot is reduced to about half a cup (this is sufficient for 8 pieces of chicken wings). If the glazed is reduced too much, add a little bit of hot water at a time to add to the sauce.

INGREDIENTS FOR SWEET CHILI CHICKEN WINGS

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(Serves 4-8 peoples)

✅️ 8 Pcs Chicken Wings, cut into 3 (discard the wing tips)

✅️ 5 Pcs Lemongrass, pounded (white base only)

✅️ 45 Gm Ginger, pounded

✅️ 3 Cloves Garlic, pounded

✅️ 6 pcs Red Chilies, deseeded and pounded

✅️ Zest from 2 Limes

✅️ 1 Tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce

✅️ 1 Tsp Turmeric Powder

✅️ ½ Tsp Salt

✅️ 3 Tbsp Cooking Oil

INGREDIENTS FOR SWEET CHILI CHICKEN WINGS - GLAZE

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✅️ ½ Cup Rice Wine Vinegar

✅️ ½ Cup Sweet Chili Sauce

✅️ ½ Cup Plain Water

✅️ 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar

✅️ 1 Stalk Spring Onions, sliced (for garnish)

✅️ 1 Chili Pepper, sliced (for garnish)

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

1. Pound lemongrass, ginger, garlic and deseeded red chilies with mortar and pestle. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix the spices and chicken together thoroughly. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 4 hours minimum. Best overnight.

2. On the next day. Remove the marinated chicken wings from the refrigerator. Let rest to get back to room temperature.

3. Cover flat pan with a baking paper and spray lightly with oil spray. Arrange the marinated chicken wings on the pan in a single layer. Transfer pan into the oven and placed in the lower rack. Baked in the preheated fan forced oven set to 180 degree Celsius for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

4. To prepare the sweet chili glaze, place all the glaze ingredients (except garnish ingredients) in a pot and simmer until only half cup of sauce is left in the pot.

5. Removed cooked spiced chicken wings from the oven and arrange the chicken wings pieces on a plate. Drizzle the hot sticky sweet chili glaze over the chicken wings. Garnish with spring onions and red chilies. Served warm with rice, noodles, salads or enjoy as snacks.

RECIPE PHOTO GALLERY