Hot & Cool Grilled Chicken Wings
ingredients
GROUP A: SPICE MIX
1/2 tbsp red chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp smoked Alderwood salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp anise seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp brown sugar
GROUP B: WINGS
300 - 400 g skin-on chicken wings
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp hot (spicy) honey*
Salt & pepper, to taste
GROUP C: ADD-ONS
1 tbsp labneh
1 tbsp tahini paste
Salt & pepper, to taste
Lemon wedges, to garnish
Notes:
* If you do not have hot honey, simply add a pinch of red chili powder or ground cayenne pepper to the saucy coating.
method
Make the spice mix: Toast the fennel seeds and anise seeds in a pan. Let them cool down completely. Add to a blender or food processor with the rest off the ground spices and blitz to form a uniform powdery mix.
Marinate the wings: Add 2 - 3 tablespoons of the spice mix (there will be some left over still) to the chicken wings. Add a pinch of salt & pepper and the olive oil, and massage the spice mix into the chicken by rubbing well. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Grill the wings either on a grill pan, or better still, on an outdoor grill. Cook till the skin starts to crisp on the outer edges, and the wings have well-defined grill marks. Drizzle or spray more oil while grilling, if necessary.
Mix the yogurt, hot honey, a pinch of salt, and some fresh ground black pepper, to make a slightly runny dressing. Pour it all over the wings and toss the wings to coat each one completely. Mix all Group C ingredients to make the dip and serve with the grilled, saucy wings. Spritz some fresh lemon juice before digging in!