HONEYED SRIRACHA WINGS
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
THE WINNER of Food Network Magazine's Secret Ingredient "Cook with Honey" Contest! They said "think like an Iron Chef and dream up a dish using this month's secret ingredient. So I did.
These babies open the flood-gates to hot wing Nirvana. Oven-fried, crispy tender chicken wings glazed with spicy, sweet, citrusy Asian flavours that somehow softly whisper of Buffalo.
I've had one of those weeks. Waaaaaahhhhh...... You know the kind. Everything adverse and troublesome reared it's annoying little head. OMIGAWD worries and stresses pressed in. Anything that could go sideways, did. We all have these weeks that turn us into dandy little balls of angst and frustrations. Bleck!
As far as I know there's only one cure for this kind of shite week. Food. Glorious, soul-satisfying comfort food. A little deliciousness goes a long way in soothing the savage beast within us. And if that is indeed the case, those wings we had last night, soothed that savage beast into a purring puddy tat! Geez, even just thinking about how ridiculously amazing the Sriracha Honey Hot Wings were gets me purring with pleasure and wanting MORE!!
My unending gratitude goes out to The White On Rice Couple and their food blog where I serendipitously found inspiration for my Sriracha Honey Hot Wings. I had my way with their recipe, tweeking here and there, to suit our own tastes, but 'twas indeed the Rice Couple that fired my jets towards concocting luscious, new finger-licking goodness.
Some of you might be saying, 'but you just blogged some hot wings'. Yes, you're right. I'll make no apologies. Those adobo hot wings are heavenly. You really should try them. More than once! But listen up, if you like spicy, like we like spicy, oh, oh, oh, what a wing I've got for you!! Honeyed Sriracha or bust!!!! Divine combination.
Who woulda' thunk?! We ALWAYS have sriracha in the house, we go through bottles of the stuff. But coupling that spicy Asian condiment with the pure sweetness of honey and a yum of butter is sheer genius. Oh my! Again, I'm crazily craving more Sriracha Hot Wings. I wish we had leftovers. Ha, ha, ha that's funny, leftover Sriracha wings. Impossible!
HONEYED SRIRACHA CHICKEN WINGS
About 2 pounds chicken wings, tips removed and cut in half into a drummette and a wingette
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons peanut, corn, vegetable or canola oil
1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
1 teaspoon sea or Kosher salt
1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup sriracha
1/4 cup your favorite runny honey
1 generous tablespoon dark soy sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime (if it's a juicy lime, if it's not, add the juice of the whole lime)
Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Very lightly oil a large rimmed baking sheet. Dry chicken wings with paper towels and place in large bowl. In a cup mix melted butter, peanut oil, garlic powder, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour over wings in bowl, mix and massage seasoning mixture to coat the wings. Lay wings out, not touching, on prepared baking sheet.
While wings are cooking, melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Mix in sriracha, honey, soy sauce and lime juice. Stir until mixture bubbles gently. Remove from heat.
Bake wings 45-55 minutes until toasty brown and cooked through. Carefully scrape wings off of baking sheet with metal or other thin spatula. Place cooked wings in large bowl. Quickly reheat sriracha-honey glaze for a moment and drizzle over crispy tender wings. Toss gently to completely cover the wings in that sweet, spicy, tangy scrumptiousness. Eat.
**Please note - Warning!! Be careful!! Just 'eat' the wings, as inhaling them may cause bodily damage!**