There are few things quite as intimidating to the home cook as deep frying– oil splattering, smoke alarms going off, and a gallon of 400 degree oil sitting on the stove right as you make your way to the dinner table can get overwhelming fast. Fortunately for us all, the oven can produce chicken wings with crispy skin and tender meat that rivals any wing that a deep fryer can. The trick is to first prepare the chicken wings by a combination of dry brining and air drying. Fear not- these wings will be anything BUT dry- layers of chicken fat, combined with increased moisture retention from the brine will make sure these wings are juicy, even before you sauce ‘em up.
To cook: Preheat the oven to 450*. Cook for 20 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes, until crispy and golden brown. Remove from the oven and toss in the sauce of your choice while they are still hot- believe it or not, saucing while hot is also crucial to maintaining a crispy skin. Too cool, and the sauce will begin to soften that glassy skin you’ve worked so hard to produce.
There are countless flavor options for chicken wings- here are some FFT Favorites.
- Carolina BBQ- 1 Part Mustard, 1 ½ Parts Brown Sugar, ⅓ Part Cider Vinegar, and a few dashes each of Worcestershire and hot sauce.
- Thai Chili- 1/2 cup Thai Chili Sauce, such as Mae Ploy; 1 Tbsp Honey; 1 tsp each Sesame Oil, Red Pepper Flakes, and Black Pepper; 3 Cloves Garlic; 1 tsp Soy Sauce; ½ Cup Water. Heat to dissolve the sugar, then stir in a slurry made of 1 Tbsp Cornstarch and 2 Tbsp Water- whisk over medium heat for about 5 minutes until thickened and glossy.
- Lemon Pepper: ½ Cup each Mayo and Greek Yogurt; 1 Tbsp each Honey and Dijon, The Zest and Juice of 1 Lemon, ½ tsp each Black Pepper and Garlic Powder, and 1 tsp Hot Sauce
Brining meat is a testament to the power of osmosis in action. Salt on the surface of the meat draws moisture out to the surface, where it combines with the seasoning before being drawn back into the meat. To that end, while even a short dry brine will give good results, it’s best to let the brine work its magic for 18-24 hours. Enjoy :)
