Easy Chinese Take Out Wings Recipe: Crispy Wings in Restaurant Style!
Chinese takeout wings have vast differences from fried wings coated in hot sauce popular in the Western world, which is more commonly known as Buffalo wings. In China, chicken wings are seasoned with salt, pepper, or other special chicken seasonings. Then, the wings are coated in cornstarch and double-fried to make them extra crispy.
To get that perfect bite of crunchy chicken wings, you need to follow this Chinese take out wings recipe. I admit it takes a long time to prepare, but the result will blow your mind. Let me show you the exact recipe for making delicious chicken wings.
Table of Contents
Overview Of The Take Out Wings Recipe
Making fried chicken wings may sound easy, but you need the right techniques to get perfect wings. Check the overview chart to get the essential information and then we will move on to the cooking process.
| Course: Snacks | Cuisine: Chinese | Difficulty: Medium | ||
| Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes | ||||
| Serving | Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Calories | |
| 4 persons | 8 hours 15 minutes | 5 minutes | 424 kcal | |
Tools and Utensils You Need
You don’t need a lot of tools and utensils to make this recipe. Still, I have a list below to help you.
- A medium bowl
- A deep frying pan
- A pair of tongs
- Measuring spoons
- A grater
- A kitchen knife
- A kitchen thermometer (optional)
Have everything ready? Let’s make it!
Ingredients Needed for the Recipe
You need quite a few ingredients to make these flavorful wings. I will put all the ingredients with their quantities below.
- Chicken Wing: 16 pcs of chicken wings
- Lemon: Half of a lemon
- Salt: 2 tsp
- Paprika: 1 tbsp
- Garlic Powder: ½ tsp
- Ginger Powder: ½ tsp
- Sugar: ½ tsp
- Chicken Seasoning Mix: 1 tbsp
- Garlic: 3-4 cloves, minced
- Ginger: 1 tsp, grated
- Chili Powder: ½ tsp
- Lemon Powder: ½ tsp
- Soy Sauce: 1 tbsp
- Sesame Oil: 1 tbsp
- Shaoxing Wine: 1 tbsp
- Chili Flakes: ½ tsp
- Cornstarch: 2 tbsp
- Flour: 1 tbsp
- Oil: 1 liter
Chinese Take Out Wings Recipe: Step-By-Step Instructions
Marinating the chicken wings is an important part of this recipe. You should get that right by following the exact steps.
Step 1: Cut and Clean the Wings
Take a kitchen knife and cut the tip of the chicken wings. Then, put them in a bowl. Add water, salt, and lemon juice to the bowl. Leave the wings for about 10-15 minutes. After that, rinse the wings thoroughly.
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Use the same bowl to marinate the wings. Put salt, paprika, garlic powder, ginger powder, sugar, chili powder, seasoning mix, chili flakes, lemon powder, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine in the bowl. Add cornstarch and a bit of flour to the wings and mix everything.
Step 2: Marinate the Chicken Wings
Let the wings rest for at least a few hours. It is better to marinate them overnight.
Step 3: Fry the Wings
Heat oil in a pan to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle some cornstarch over the wings and coat them well. Then, drop the wings in hot oil and fry them for 2-3 minutes.
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Step 4: Fry the Wings Again
Crank the heat to 375 degrees and put the wings in oil again. Fry them for 1-2 more minutes. It will make the wings extra crispy. Now, you can enjoy take out wings on their own or serve them with fried rice or other main dishes.
Chinese Take Out Wings Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Take a kitchen knife and cut the tip of the chicken wings. Then, put them in a bowl. Add water, salt, and lemon juice to the bowl. Leave the wings for about 10-15 minutes. After that, rinse the wings thoroughly.
- Use the same bowl to marinate the wings. Put salt, paprika, garlic powder, ginger powder, sugar, chili powder, seasoning mix, chili flakes, lemon powder, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine in the bowl. Add cornstarch and a bit of flour to the wings and mix everything.
- Let the wings rest for at least a few hours. It is better to marinate them overnight.
- Heat oil in a pan to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle some cornstarch over the wings and coat them well. Then, drop the wings in hot oil and fry them for 2-3 minutes.
- Crank the heat to 375 degrees and put the wings in oil again. Fry them for 1-2 more minutes. It will make the wings extra crispy. Now, you can enjoy take out wings on their own or serve them with fried rice or other main dishes.
Nutrition Facts of the Recipe
Chicken wings are high in calories. You get 424 calories from each serving of fried wings. Besides, there are a lot of other nutrients in it.
- Total Carbohydrates: 3.2g
- Protein: 28g
- Total Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 6.8g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 11.8g
- Trans Fat: 0.4g
- Total Dietary Fiber: 0.1g
- Total Sugar: 0.4g
- Cholesterol: 188mg
- Sodium: 466mg
- Potassium: 259.6mg
- Calcium: 26mg
- Iron: 1.3mg
- Vitamin A: 205IU
- Vitamin C: 97mg
- Vitamin D: 0.4mcg
Though this recipe provides a lot of protein and fat, it is also high in cholesterol. So, you should not eat these wings too often. As the potassium content is high, it can neutralize the bad effects of sodium. You get some more minerals and vitamins, but the amount of dietary fiber is too low.
Do’s and Don’ts of the Recipe
Whenever you make these fried wings, try to follow the tips below.
Do’s
- Keep the marinated chicken wings in the refrigerator. It will help you achieve a crispier coating.
- If you want a thicker coating, add cornstarch twice. Once before refrigerating them and once before frying the wings.
Don’ts
- Don’t serve the chicken wings right after taking them out of the oil. Let them rest for about 5 minutes.
- Don’t fry the chicken wings for too long. It will dry out the chicken wings, so you won’t get that tender and juicy meat.
Can I Fry Chicken Pieces In This Recipe?
Of course. You can make fried chicken in this style by marinating chicken pieces with the same spices and seasonings. The marination process and the frying will be the same.
If the chicken pieces are bigger, you just need to fry them for longer during the first fry. It will cook the inside properly. The time for the second fry will be the same. Bone-in chicken pieces are better for this recipe because boneless pieces dry out faster.
Which Main Dishes Can I Serve With These Fried Wings?
You can serve any rice or noodle dishes with these take out wings. I prefer serving these wings with mixed fried rice. You can also serve them with white rice, stir-fried noodles, etc. Fried wings can be served on their own.
In that case, you should serve them with a dipping sauce. It can be ketchup, cheese sauce, mayonnaise, or honey mustard sauce. As these wings are spicy, sweet chili sauce will also complement the wings nicely.
Can I Use Frozen Wings to Make This Recipe?
Of course. You don’t need to thaw frozen wings first. Once you marinate the wings and let them rest, the wings will thaw gradually. So, you can start frying the wings right after taking them out of the refrigerator.
However, if you freeze marinated wings, you need to let them thaw before you can fry them. Otherwise, the outside will be cooked quickly and the inside will remain raw.
Are Wings From Country Chicken or Farm-Raised Chicken Better for This Recipe?
Country chicken wings taste better than farm-raised chicken. However, these wings are much leaner than farm-raised chicken wings. So, you will get only a small amount of meat. On the other hand, farm-raised chicken wings have more meat, so they turn out juicier.
Conclusion
Chicken wings can be made in hundreds of ways. Among all of them, Chinese take-out wings are my favorite because of multiple reasons. Firstly, these wings are super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Secondly, these wings are quite spicy, which matches my preference.
If you are like me, you should try this Chinese take-out wings recipe. Using the right spices and seasonings for marinating the wings is what impacts the flavors. And frying them correctly is the next big thing. Try them on your own.
