The weather has turned like clockwork and the new leaves not only say “Hark! Spring is here.” but also stir a very rational urge to eat lighter and healthier. I often find that lighter and healthier food is more packed with flavour. It is but natural that what it lacks in richness is compensated by an explosion of flavours. Another advantage of lighter food is that it is extremely quick to put together. Hence lightweight lunches are the hallmark of spring.
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A mid week meal for me is usually a healthy sandwich, noodles and soup or a vegetarian omelette. But when the man of the house works from home, lunch almost becomes a cause to celebrate his fantastic company. To that effect, I decided to create a simple, light and flavourful lunch of glazed, buttery chicken wings and an amazing ginger caramel and chili dipping sauce that packed a punch. With some fresh salad leaves on the side and a bottle of frothy beer (that eventually got forgotten because the chicken wings were so amazing!), we had a lovely meal for two on a lazy Monday afternoon at the start of spring in Sydney.
The marinade is what makes this chicken dish go from simple to special. I have been creating my own marinades for a while, sometimes bashing up fresh ingredients in a mortar and pestle and at other times whisking up beautiful flavours in a glass bowl. The star ingredient of my marinade is the Campbell’s Real Chicken Stock Paste. It is rich and robust in flavour and works well with any style you might want to experiment with. Inspired by a recipe I saw online, I injected a very distinct Asian flavour into my chicken wings and dipping sauce.
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Golden Chicken Wings With Ginger Caramel And Chili Sauce
Preparation Time - 20 minutes
Cooking Time - 40 minutes
Serves - 4
Ingredients
For Chicken Wings
1kg chicken wings
2 green spring onions, thinly sliced (to garnish)
2-3 stalks fresh coriander (to garnish)
For The Marinade
2 teaspoons Campbell's Real Chicken Stock Paste (or 1 teaspoon concentrated chicken stock and 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce) (or 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce and 1 tablespoon regular chicken stock)
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 inch piece ginger, grated
1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves and stalks, chopped
2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
For The Ginger Caramel And Chili Dipping Sauce
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
3 star anise pods
1 teaspoon finely sliced fresh ginger
1 small red chili, finely sliced
Method
Preheat oven to 200C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the marinade and mix well. Add the chicken, mix to coat completely with the marinade. Set aside for 10 minutes.
In a small heavy bottomed saucepan, combine all ingredients for the dipping sauce and bring to a boil on high. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 10 minutes until slightly sticky and thick. Remove from heat.
Place marinated chicken on prepared baking tray and bake in the pre-heated oven for approximately 40 minutes until golden and cooked.
Garnish with spring onion and coriander leaves. (I also tossed in a few extra chill slices in the end).
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So tell me, whats your favourite mid week light brunch/lunch? I'd love to see your recipe and give it a go myself!
I have made these chicken wings multiples times and always had requests for an encore! It's my go-to when I have to take something quick and simple that I know will wow the crowd!
oh.. my.. WORD!!! I made these last night, but with drumsticks instead of chicken wings. I cannot believe the flavour that came from the marinade! Such simple ingredients but when combined they're just something else. Out of this worrrrrld!! *droooool!!*
..and the same goes to say for the dipping sauce. Thanks Sneh! Next up, I think I'd like to try out your Palak Paneer recipe. 😀
I have never seen chicken wings at their best and at their most flavorful get up, ever! Looks really delicious. Yum! I bet this will be a blast for a weekend party. Can't wait to try...Thanks for the post!
Awesome recipe with great photos. Mouthwatering.
You have a great blog, Sneh. I am now following you. Feel free to visit my blog and follow back.
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Regards
Spoon and Chopsticks
http://spoon-and-chopsticks.blogspot.com
This sounds simply AMAZING! I love the flavor of fresh ginger in any and everything and the dipping sauce is too good. Sneh your food styling is so beautiful that I just keep scrolling up and down loving all of them!
Awesome! I'm loving the flavour combination going on here.. Thank goodness for the warm weather (today was perfect minus the wind but who cares..) as it only means one thing, beaches and dresses! 🙂 But I totally agree with you in regards to eating lighter in these warmer seasons, I think that's what I did in the first week of Spring.. It was salads galore! Love it!
What a stellar, mouthwatering post! Love your blog and your photos. Serious style.
Good idea! Need to get the chicken wings on as well.
I like that ginger caramel chilli dip..wold be a great sauce for my noodles and pastas as well.
mmm! This is incredible. Delicious. I will need to give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing.
start of spring!!! I'm so jealous right now. Here in California we have a rainy winter to look forward to..we do need the rain but a second spring would be totally welcome! Thanks for the yummy recipe and pictures.
The chicken looks delicious, very tempting. It's great to have lunch at home in the week. Well worth celebrating. GG
They look so good!!!
OOh I just made some chicken wings but I wish I had seen your recipe first because that looks so much better Sneh! 😀
Awesome as usual, Sneh! Haven't had a good chicken wing in ages -- looks like a beautiful, sticky marinade.
Love the colors! And the gorgeous melange of flavors in the dipping sauce. Yum. Bookmarked.
This looks great. A stock paste seems strange, but the photos totally help me get past that. 🙂
mmm this looks derricious.
i'll be making this.... with more chilli... but i'll be making this
looks fabulous as always!