Middle Eastern Chicken Wings Recipes

MIDDLE EASTERN CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl or large ziploc bag.
• Throw the wings inches.
• Cover or seal in a ziploc bag and let marinate for 2 hours to overnight.
• Cook on a BBQ/hibatchi/grill until done.
• Serve hot.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• For the marinade, toast cinnamon, pepper, coriander, cumin, cloves and cardamom in skillet over medium-high heat until very fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes; cool.
• Transfer to small bowl. Stir in paprika, garlic, sugar, salt, pepper flakes, oil, juice.
• Cut wing tips off chicken; halve wings at joint. Combine wings with marinade in plastic bag. Chill in refrigerator 45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Spread wings in large rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake in oven 25 minutes, turning occasionally. Increase heat to broil. Cook wings under broiler 10 minutes or until skin is crisp. Enjoy!
• Note: If you have mortar and pestle, substitute seeds for ground, and grind together. Use 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds, 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/4 teaspoon cardamom seeds.
• Makes 8 servings.

ZA'ATAR CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• Za'atar Spice Blend: In a medium bowl, mix together za'atar and sumac until evenly combined. Pour spice blend onto parchment paper, then pull up the edges to create a funnel. Gently pour the spice mixture into a shaker or lidded container. Set aside. Makes 1½ cups.
• Cure chicken: In a bowl, add onion powder, salt, and mustard powder, and mix until well blended. Add the chicken wings to a large bowl, sprinkle with about half the curing mixture, and get in there with your hands to coat each piece well. (Note: This is enough cure for 8 whole wings or 1 whole chicken, so you won't need to use all of it. Save it in an airtight container for next time!) On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, arrange the coated wings in a single layer, keeping the skin intact; lightly cover with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Bring the cured chicken to room temperature. (You don't want to fry ice-cold chicken, because it won't cook all the way through, and it will chill the frying oil.) Meanwhile, make the batter: In a large bowl, add the cornstarch, flour, and salt. Slowly pour in the cold water, whisking continuously, until the mixture is smooth and the consistency of thin pancake batter. Add more water as needed to thin the batter.
• Heat oil: Clip a candy or deep fry thermometer onto a large, heavy pot. Add enough canola oil to fully submerge the wings-about halfway up the side of the pot. (Oil expands as it heats, so don't overfill the pot.) Heat the oil over low heat until it reaches at least 300 degrees F. (It's fine if the oil temperature goes up as high as 350 degrees F, because it will drop once the chicken is added.) Coat chicken: Separate each wing into two pieces by slicing through the joint between the drumette and the flat. When the oil is hot, add all the chicken into the batter and fully coat each piece.
• First fry: Use tongs to pick up a wing and allow some of the excess batter to drip off. Gently swirl the tip of the wing in the hot oil to set the crust; this will prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Then, ease the rest of the wing into the oil. Repeat with all the wings. Fry for 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to make sure the wings don't stick together or to the bottom of the pot. If they do stick, gently separate them with the spoon; try not to tear the delicate crust!
• After 10 minutes, use the slotted spoon to transfer the wings to drain on a wire rack or paper towels on a baking sheet. The chicken will not be fully cooked-there's a second fry. Let the chicken rest, 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, reheat the oil to just above 350 degrees F (temperature will drop slightly when the chicken is added). Use the slotted spoon to remove and discard stray bits of batter from the oil. (Note: The wings can be made to this point up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated; bring it back to room temperature before the second fry.)
• Second fry: When the oil is hot, fry the wings again by gently easing them into the oil with the slotted spoon. Fry for 4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
• Use the slotted spoon to transfer the chicken wings to drain on a clean wire rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Use a spice shaker to shower Za'atar Spice Blend onto all sides of the chicken, or sprinkle it on with your fingers. Reserve any spice blend on the bottom of the tray to reuse on more chicken. Serve immediately. (Note: Frying oil can be reused several more times for frying chicken. Cool the oil completely, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean jar. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.)

MIDDLE EASTERN YOGURT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk together yogurt, olive oil, vinegar, oregano, green onion, cumin, salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the chicken breast halves and toss to evenly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator 1 hour to overnight.
• Preheat an oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Grease a shallow baking dish.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard used marinade. Arrange chicken in prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 25 minutes, turning occasionally. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Garnish with spearmint before serving.