“Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings”

I just couldn’t wait to share a great recipe and give you a bonus. What do you serve for dinner on Wednesdays? Do you create a theme during the week like Meatless Mondays or Taco Tuesdays? Not sure how this creative meal planning got started but let me indulge you in Wing Wednesday with my Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings. Loaded with Asian flavors of five spice powder, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Add the subtle heat of red pepper flakes and black pepper and the sweetness of brown sugar and sweet soy sauce. I promise a new wing recipe that is perfect when the wing cravings hit you and your family. This post also brings you a bonus recipe for my Spicy Asian Lime Dressing, heated up with the addition of Thai chile. Perfect accompaniment to Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings.

Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings

I grew up a wing lover as they were a weekend favorite of Mom and my sister on movie night. Seems like traditional buffalo wings were one of a few flavors available for the longest time. Needless to say over the years that has changed. I have created numerous wing recipes, each with a different taste profile but always leaving you wanting a couple more. I totally consider wings of any kind the ultimate pig out food. We eat wings everywhere with dozens of flavors available. Wings are fun for kids and adults alike. Make a fantastic change to your normal weekday dinner menu and watch the faces light up.

Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings

Place chicken wings in the marinade and refrigerate while you’re working. If you plan to serve a salad using my salad dressing, I recommend making the dressing ahead of time to allow flavors to meld. When you get home from work place wings on baking sheet. heat oven and bake. Boil remaining marinade for later and prepare salad greens. That’s how easy this meal is. Tasty good, sticky sweet and subtle heat. Fabulous, outstanding, simple and delicious. I bet you will not have leftovers or at least very few.

Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings

The next time you and your loved ones get the craving for wings, pull out this recipe and head to your local market. If you can find packages of wing drumettes or wingettes great. Much easier than cutting off tips and halving. Plus I like and prefer small wings as buying them whole usually yields larger wings which can be on the tough side. Five spice powder is located in the spice aisle. I use Tamari soy sauce and found sweet soy sauce in the Asian section. Having trouble locating sweet soy sauce, use hoisin sauce instead. Flavor will be just as good. Serve these wings with a crisp green salad drizzled with my Spicy Asian Lime Dressing. Enjoy and have a finger-lickin’ good time!

Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings

 

Sticky Sweet Five Spice Chicken Wings

3 to 3 ½ pounds chicken wing pieces, trimmed and dried

1/2 cup Tamari soy sauce

1 T. sweet soy sauce or hoisin sauce

1/2 t. five spice powder

1/2 to 1 t. red pepper flakes

1 t. black pepper

6 T. light brown sugar

2 T. minced ginger

2 T. minced garlic

 

In a small mixing bowl, combine all marinade ingredients. Place chicken wings in a Ziploc bag and pour marinade over wings. Close bag, massaging to distribute marinade evenly. Refrigerate wings for at least 4 hours to overnight.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with non-stick foil and place wings skin side down in a single layer. Bake wings for 25 minutes.

Pour marinade in a small saucepan and boil for 5 minutes. Remove wings from oven, turn skin side up and brush with heated marinade. Return to oven and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes, brushing a couple of times with more marinade.

Remove wings to serving platter. Serve warm with a tossed green salad drizzled with Spicy Asian Lime Dressing (recipe follows).

 

Spice Asian Lime Dressing

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1 dried Thai chile, crushed (seeded if desired)

3 T. fish sauce

1 garlic clove, finely minced

2 T. light brown sugar

3 T. granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

2 T. Olive oil

 

In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Pour into a dressing cruet or bottle. Let sit at least 15 to 30 minutes before serving. Dressing can be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Remove from refrigerator and shake before serving.

Suggested salad ingredients: iceberg lettuce, baby mixed greens, grape tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, and pea pods.