Szechuan Chicken Wings Recipes

BEER BRAISED SZECHUAN CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, combine the wings, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, five-spice, Szechuan peppercorns, dried chiles, scallion greens (reserve the sliced whites for garnish) and star anise. Mix all of the ingredients until well combined. You may marinate the wings overnight for a deeper flavor, if you wish.
• Add the rice vinegar and beer to the pot. Bring the pot up to a boil over high heat, and then lower the heat to a rolling simmer. Braise the wings, uncovered, until they are tender, about 1 hour. Remove the wings from the braise to a sheet tray and refrigerate until cold.
• Reduce the braise over medium heat until the consistency can thinly coat the back of a spoon. Strain the braising liquid through a fine mesh sieve, discarding the solids. Whisk in the butter to the glaze. Check for seasoning.
• Preheat the deep-frying oil in a large pot to 375 degrees F.
• Pat the chilled chicken wings dry, and then toss to coat in the cornstarch-flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour.
• Deep-fry the wings in small batches, being careful to not overcrowd the pot, until dark brown and crispy, about 3 minutes. Drain the wings from the oil into a large bowl, adding the spicy beer glaze and tossing until well coated. Serve the wings hot garnished with the sliced scallion whites.

SICHUAN CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Toss the chicken in 1 tsp salt and the baking powder - this is the secret to getting crispy skin! Put the wings on a wire rack set over an oven tray. Bake for 30 mins, turning halfway, then turn the heat up to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and cook for 20 mins more.
• Meanwhile, toast the peppercorns and chilli flakes until fragrant, about 2 mins, then grind using a pestle and mortar. Tip into a saucepan, then add the rest of the ingredients apart from the chopped peanuts and chilli flakes. Whisk to combine, then cook over a medium heat for 8-10 mins until thickened and bubbling. Set aside.
• Take the chicken off the rack and tip onto the tray, then coat in the glaze. Return to the oven for 5 mins until bubbling and sticky. Serve the chicken scattered with the peanuts and chilli flakes.