Spicy Fried Chicken Wings

This is another recipe from BBC2's The Best. I love chicken wings. I'm not normally one for messy things like eating off the bone or eating with my fingers, but I'll make an exception for a good flavoured chicken wing. These spicy fried chicken wings are most definately good flavoured chicken wings. D is most decidely anti-bone in all things and even he liked these (although he did ask if I could make them with chicken breast meat next time). What's even better is that these wings are cooked in the oven, which means I don't need to confront my fear of deep-frying to enjoy them.

Silvana serves these chicken wings with a mango salsa, but they don't need it. They are very good all by themselves and this means that you get to cut half the steps out of the recipe. The spicy coating gets its spiced from Cajun seasoning, which I didn't have in my pantry. I made some using this recipe from Recipezaar and they turned out wonderfully.

The chicken still gets a satisfyingly crispy coating even when cooked in the oven. I don't think I'll ever contemplate deep-frying chicken to get that crispiness again, this was just as good if not better and was much easier. I've made it twice since my first attempt and I find that if you cut the chicken wings at all the joints and cook the bits individually they are easier to eat, and since you're cutting the tips off anyway it's next to no extra work.

These are so good I've bought some emergency chicken wings to keep in the freezer ready for the next time I want a spicy chicken fix.


Spicy Fried Chicken Wings
adapted from The Best Cookbook and this recipe from Recipezaar

Cajun Seasoning
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin (not in the original recipe, I just love cumin)
1 tsp ground black pepper

6 large chicken wings
2 tbs plain white flour
1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp table salt

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Using a strong pair of scissors, cut the chicken wings at each joint, discard the wing tips or set aside to make chicken stock.

Combine the Cajun seasoning ingredients and mix well.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, Cajun seasoning, paprika and salt. Toss the wings in the seasoned flavour and arrange on a wire rack. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, until crisp and golden brown. Turn wings over halfway through the cooking time.