Sticky wings are messy, and that’s a good thing.
Sticky wings remind us that it’s okay to be a carnivore. They remind us of a simpler time, sitting around the cave with that trendy new cooking device someone cleverly named “fire”. Remember how proud you were to be the first neanderthal on the block with an indoor inferno?
But there is more to sticky wings than just primitive domination of lesser creatures. Wings have more modern pleasures as well. Wings make it okay to dribble sticky sauce all over those brand new $245 jeans. Because stains only make them better, right?
Sticky wings make kids and grandmas alike stick their face in their food and giggle while they eat.
But the best thing about these sticky wings is the way you feel after you have devoured an entire plateful. No need to feel guilty about overindulgence. Because bragging rights are the best part about eating wings. Not only is it cool to pig out on wings, it’s a badge of honor. Eating 4 or 5 sticky wings may fill you up, but eating 20 or 30 moves you to the head of the table; often to rowdy cheers, chants, hoots and hollers!
And it’s not just quanity that earns respect either. There is also that illustrious look of awe on your friends’ faces when you discuss the decibel level of the heat implications of the mighty chile pepper that adorns these wings. I have heard people proudly proclaim “…them wings were so hot I couldn’t even taste ‘em!”
Wine Pairing
2012 Fortant Hills Reserve Viognier
Price $15
Pairs well with curry, mango salsa, caramelized vegetables, rich seafood, smoked or cured meats, cheese
Well I can be a good sport about messy faces, massive quantities, and even tongues blazed raw– but I draw the line at feeling giddy about not tasting my food. Wings can be messy and they can be spicy, but they gotta be delicious.
My wings are all these things and something more. Shhhh… they’re healthy too. Or at least they’re healthier… my sticky wings are baked, not fried. Honestly I have nothing against fried foods. In fact I love fried foods and indulge myself in them when I see fit. The thing about wings is that they don’t have to be fried to be delicious. The secret is in the sauce. It’s patterned after the Malaysian street food chef Zak Pelaccio “fell in love with when he lived in Kuala Lumpur”. According to Food & Wine magazine, “Pelaccio’s favorite cart sold chicken wings, which he’s re-created in his new joint [Fatty Crab, NYC], using ginger, fish sauce and molasses for a richly pungent sauce”.
Bold flavors can be difficult to pair with wine, but not impossible. Ken put his pairing cap on and matched these sticky wings with a 2012 Fortant Pays d’Oc “Hills Reserve” Viognier. The wine’s lush floral aromatics work with the salty sweet components in the sauce because the heat is kept subtle and is more of a tingle than a burn. GREG
Oh wow, these sound amazing! Yeah for good food like this, I do not mind sticky fingers! Totally saving this recipe. Thank you for sharing Greg! Only thing I need is apple juice. Can’t wait to taste these wings. 😀
This recipe has Patriots — Broncos written all over it!
This definitely looks sticky, goey and yummy. We really enjoy Malay flavors and these are fabulous.
A great recipe. Pinning.
I used to make wings using a riff of Ina’s Indonesian Chicken for my clients…but these look far more exciting. Love the wine pairings you do-really great!
These sound fantastic Greg! I’m not the biggest wing fan (mostly because they’re usually so nuclear spicy I can’t taste them or feel my tongue after eating them). I’m going to have to these a try.
Sticky fingers!! Wings are the great leveler amongst the neanderthals 🙂 Love this and Viognier would be a perfect pairing. Thanks Greg and Ken!
These wings sound great. I bet the flavor is fab!
I wish I had a plate of those sticky little wings right now… What a beautiful rich color and wonderful combination of spices. I seriously would not even care if I got these all over my jeans. That’s what stain sticks are for ;).
These seriously sound amazing!
I have a recipe for wings that I love that is more sticky and spicy and now I’m craving it. Remember when wings were cheap? Remember when flank steak was cheap? I have to quit sharing the cheap stuff I love huh cause then everybody wants it and it’s cheap no more. I’ll pop for some wings though to try this Greg!