Spicy, lemony wings – hot, but not too hot and perfect for Halloween snacking. The fiery, fragrant marinade is a peri peri sauce. Peri peri (or piri piri) originates in Mozambique and Angola from a time when Portuguese settlers created dishes from the chilies they brought (called piri piri in Swahili). Today it appears in Portuguese and African cooking alike.
I used habanero chilies, but don’t be scared. Remove the seeds and membranes and you get the not too spicy, fruity flavor of the chile – yes, chilies actually have a flavor other than hot! If you do this the the spiciness isn’t much hotter than a jalapeno. You want it spicier, then leave some or all of the membranes inside the chile. Note: If you are at all sensitive to chilies, be sure to wear rubber gloves when handling and don’t touch yours eyes or your “bathing suit area”, because you’ll definitely be sorry! 🙂
- 4 pounds chicken wings
- 2 habanero chilies, seeds and membrane removed and finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic. pressed or minced
- 1-inch fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons fresh marjoram leaves
- ¼ cup hot paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Put wings in a large zip-top bag. Add the chilies, garlic, ginger, marjoram, and spices to a food processor. With the motor running add just enough lemon juice to form a paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then again, with the motor running, slowly add the remaining lemon juice and the oil. Once combined, measure out ½ cup marinade and reserve covered in the refrigerator for later. Scrape remaining marinade into the bag with the wings, squeeze out the excess air and seal the bag. Massage around until everything is combined and coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or as long as overnight.
- Remove wings from marinade and shake off any excess; discard the marinade. Allow wings to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes to take the chill off.
- Set up your grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat. Make sure your grates are cleaned and oiled before you start cooking. Grill for 12 to 18 minutes or until cooked though, basting with reserved marinade and turning occasionally.
- Remove wings from the grill and brush with remaining marinade, if there is any left. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Cheers and Happy Grilling!
~Jeff
looks scrumptious! I love Piri Piri sauce!
Hey Maggie! Give these a try… They have a really nice heat matched with the lemon. I ate the entire batch after I took the pic. :-). Let me know what you think.
Cheers!
Looks amazing, need to try making this!
Thanks, Hannah! They really are tasty – be sure to make extra 🙂
Reblogged this on CurvySwagger and commented:
Chef Jeff Parker loves a spicy dish! If you like wings this is an excellent recipe to add to your repertoire.
Yum!!
Thanks!!
Hi Jeff, today I’m collecting recipes for snacks and treats. Please drop me a line on ca4ole@gmail.com if you are ok with me linking to your post on Carole’s Chatter. Cheers
Please do. Thank you, Carole.