Cajun Chicken Wings
Everyone knows the standard takes on the humble chicken wing, but here's a variant that uses some unusual ingredients to create a much more interesting flavor profile.
Ingredients
12 chicken wings, tips removed
5 bay leaves, crumbled into small bits
2 tsp paprika, preferably Hungarian
2 tsp brandy
2 tsp fresh lemon or lime juice
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
3/4 tsp caraway seeds
1/2 - 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
3/4 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp ground coriander
3/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp salt
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Directions
1. Defat the chicken wings by cooking them in boiling water for 10 min. Drain and set aside to cool.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
3. Using a large mortar and pestle, grind together the bay leaf bits, caraway seeds, cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin, garlic, mustard, paprika, thyme and salt for about 10 min. This can be done in a spice mill or small coffee grinder if you prefer.
4. Add the brandy and lemon or lime juice to the pulverized herbs and stir into a thick paste.
5. With a pastry brush, cover both sides of each wing with the herb paste. When no more remains in the mortar, squeeze the last few drops from the brush.
6. Arrange the chicken wings on a baking sheet. Bake until the skin turns deep brown and is quite crisp approximately 30 min.
