Chicken wings venture far from Buffalo in this inventive recipe. Rich Thai curries inspired the blend that coats Chef Solomonov’s crispy, double-fried wings. Sweet toasted coconut balances out savory, fragrant spices for a surprising and satisfying departure from familiar hot-sauce territory.
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 5 hr 25 min |
| Active: | 40 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes, oven-toasted at 350 F until golden, 4?5 minutes
- 1/4 cup sumac
- 1 cup Madras yellow curry powder
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 4 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons mustard powder
- 4 whole chicken wings, drumettes and flats attached
- 1 1/2 cups cornstarch
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 3/4 cups cold water, plus more as needed
- 1 quart canola oil, plus more as needed, depending on size of pot
Instructions
- Coconut-Curry Spice Blend: In a medium bowl, mix together toasted coconut flakes, sumac, curry powder, ginger, onion powder, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne until evenly combined. Set aside. Makes 1½ cups. (Store leftover spice blend in an airtight container, unrefrigerated, indefinitely.)
- 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 F. (It’s fine if the oil temperature goes up as high as 350 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 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 them 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. Sprinkle Coconut-Curry Spice Blend onto all sides of the chicken. 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.)
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 12 servings |
| Calories | 271 |
| Total Fat | 16 g |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Protein | 5 g |
| Cholesterol | 9 mg |
| Sodium | 223 mg |