Ginger-Orange Chicken Wings
These Chinese-style baked chicken wings are cooked with orange and ginger for an irresistible sticky, sweet sauce that coats each wing.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine
- 2 pounds chicken wing drumettes and flats
- 2 cups very hot water
- 1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced crosswise on a mandoline (about 1/2 cup)
- 6 orange peel strips (from 1 orange)
- 1 whole star anise
- 2 tablespoons Chinese light soy sauce (such as Pearl River Bridge Golden Label)
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Chinese dark soy sauce (such as Pearl River Bridge)
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions, plus more for garnish
- Orange wedges, for serving
Instructions
- 1Heat a large wok or deep skillet over high. When pan is hot (test by sprinkling a few drops of wine into pan — it should evaporate within seconds), add wine and chicken wings. Immediately stir to coat chicken in evaporating wine. Cook until most of the wine has evaporated, about 30 seconds. Add 2 cups hot water, ginger, orange peel, and star anise. Cover and bring to a boil over high; reduce heat to medium, and vigorously simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.
- 2Stir in light soy sauce, molasses, brown sugar, dark soy sauce, and salt. Cover and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until liquid has reduced to about 1 cup and the tip of a paring knife inserted into a chicken wing flat meets little resistance, 15 to 18 minutes.
- 3Uncover pan, increase heat to high, and cook, stirring constantly, until chicken is coated in a thick, glossy, mahogany-colored sauce, 5 to 7 minutes. (Some of the sugary sauce will darken and stick to the sides of the pan.) Remove from heat, and stir in scallions. Transfer wings to a serving plate. Let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with additional scallions, and serve with orange wedges.