Tag Archives: chicken wings

Smoked chicken wings

Ingredients

  • 1kg chicken wings, wing tips removed
  • 100ml pressed apple juice
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • a few handfuls cherry wood chips, (see ‘Which wood?’ box, below)
  • to serve ranch or blue-cheese dressing

RUB

  • 2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 1 tsp onion granules
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • a large pinch cayenne pepper
  • ground to make ½ tsp black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • a large pinch dried chilli flakes
  • 2 tsp sea salt flakes

Method

  • STEP 1

    Combine all the rub ingredients in a large bowl, tip in the chicken and use your hands to mix until all the wings are well coated. Marinate in the fridge, ideally overnight, or for at least 2 hours.

  • STEP 2

    Combine the apple juice and apple cider vinegar, and pour into a small spray bottle or keep to one side in a small container – this will be used to keep the wings moist and help the skin to caramelise when cooking.

  • STEP 3

    To prepare the barbecue, follow the instructions under the heading ‘how to prepare a kettle barbecue for hot smoking’ here. Cook the wings for 45 minutes, turning and rotating every 15 minutes – give the wings a good spray or drizzle of the apple juice at the same time. If the temperature drops below 120C, lift the lid and fan the coals to get the heat going again.

  • STEP 4

    Lift the lid and move the chicken wings to the other side of the barbecue, above the hot coals, and let the skins crisp up for 5 minutes or until really caramelised and starting to char – keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t darken too much. Once done, remove from the barbecue and serve with a ranch or blue-cheese dressing for dipping, if you like.

Braai Chilli chicken wings

Ingredients

  • 4 tsp ground cumin
  • 4 tsp paprika
  • 4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp fine sea salt
  • crushed to make 1 /4 tsp black peppercorns
  • 30 chicken wings, tips removed and jointed
  • a big handful oregano, chopped

YOGURT SAUCE

  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 300g natural yogurt

Directions

  1. Prepare the BBQ for indirect cooking by banking up the coals on one side so that there is a hot side and a cooler side.
  2. For the yogurt sauce, mix the garlic with the lemon juice in a bowl and set aside.Combine the spices, salt and pepper in a bowl.
  3. Toss the wings with 3 tbsp of this mixture in another bowl.
  4. Cook the wings on the cooler side of the braai, with the lid closed, for 30 minutes, turning halfway through.
  5. Move the wings to direct heat, over the coals, and cook for another 5 minutes, moving them around and turning to ensure even crisping.
  6. Roast for 45 minutes until cooked through. Heat the grill to high and transfer the wings to a large tray, discarding any cooking juices.
  7. Grill for 15-20 minutes, turning them every 3-4 minutes, until charred and crispy.

Garlic Chili Braai Chicken Wings

Ingredients

  • 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 c. low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 c. honey
  • 1/4 c. chili garlic sauce
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp. freshly minced ginger
  • 1 KG. chicken wings

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, soy sauce, honey, chili garlic sauce, lime juice, garlic, and ginger. Set aside ½ cup of mixture.
  2. Add chicken wings to remaining marinade and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  3. Preheat braai to at least 200°c . Remove wings from marinade and place on braai.
  4. Cover and bake until golden and crispy, 50 to 60 minutes, flipping wings constantly throughout.
  5. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add reserved marinade. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer until thickened, 10 minutes.
  6.  Brush sauce over wings and braai until caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.