Korean: Sesame Hoisin Chicken Wings

By SharonE

Ingredients

• ½ cup Soy Balsamic Sauce (1/2 tsp cornstarch, 1 tbs water, 1/8 c dark brown sugar, 1/4 c balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c soy sauce)
• ¼ cup Magic Paste (1/2" piece ginger peeled and sliced, 2 garlic cloves peeled, 1 tbs fennel seeds, 1/4 c fish sauce 1/8 c toasted sesame oil, 1/8 c korean chili flakes)
• ¼ cup hoisin sauce
• ½ cup thinly sliced green onions, white and green parts
• 3 pounds chicken wings and drumettes
• Korean chili flakes (optional)

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Soy Balsamic:
In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and water until the cornstarch dissolves and the mixture is the consistency of heavy cream, adding more cornstarch if the mixture is too thin. Combine the brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Stir the cornstarch mixture briefly to recombine, then stir it into the soy-vinegar mixture and simmer over low heat for about 3 minutes, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat, let cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container.

Magic Paste:
Combine the ginger, garlic, and fennel seeds in a food processor and process until minced, periodically scraping down the sides of the bowl to make sure all of the ginger gets chopped. Add the fish sauce, oil, and chili flakes and process for 30 seconds. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 2 months.

In a large bowl, combine the Soy Balsamic Sauce, Magic Paste, hoisin sauce, and green onions and mix well. Measure out ½ cup of the marinade and reserve for basting the wings on the grill. Place the chicken wings and drumettes in a large, shallow dish, pour the remaining marinade on top, and turn the wings and drumettes to coat evenly. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Heat the grill for indirect heat cooking to medium (350°F to 375°F).

(If using a charcoal grill, rake the coals to one side of the charcoal grate; if using a gas grill, turn off half of the burners.)

Place the wings and drumettes on the grill grate away from the heat, close the lid, and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the wings and drumettes over, baste them with some of the reserved marinade, close the lid, and cook for another 5 minutes. Flip the wings and drumettes over two more times, moving them directly over the fire, basting, and cooking for 5 minutes on each side. Sprinkle on some Korean chili flakes, if you like things a little spicier.

Transfer the wings and drumettes to a platter and serve.