I use local raw honey everyday to sweeten my tea and thought it might be fun to post a savory recipe using honey. These chicken wings are spicy and delicious. Here are some interesting facts about honey; it’s a sweet liquid from the nectar of flowers produced by bees, and not only a sweetener but it can soothe a cough, heal a wound, promote digestion, and populate your gut with good bacteria. There is some research that suggests that eating local honey can ward off pollen allergies. Raw honey has many valuable properties that can be damaged by using heat, so raw honey has never been heated over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Honey never spoils because bacteria cannot grow, and should be stored in an airtight glass jar. Made up mostly of varying amounts of glucose and fructose, honey crystalizes because of the higher content of glucose in some of the varieties. Warming the honey to get rid of the crystals will degrade the flavor and nutritional qualities, so enjoy it just the way it is.
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds chicken wings
- 1/4 cup extra-vigin olive oil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sambal oelek (or more) or chili paste of your choice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- fresh scallions thinly sliced for garnish
- Squeeze of lime juice
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler. In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spray a wire rack with non-stick cooking spray. Set the wire rack over a large roasting tray or baking sheet. Arrange the wings on the wire rack in one layer. Broil for 45 to 50 minutes, turning once or twice, until the wings are cooked through and browned.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the vinegar and sambal oelek or chili paste and simmer for 1 minute. Let it cool, and then whisk in the honey and soy sauce.
- In a large bowl, carefully toss the chicken wings with the honey-soy mixture. Transfer the wings to a platter, sprinkle with the scallions and the squeeze the fresh lime juice, and serve.
