Lemon Soy Sesame Wings

These baked wings are a much lighter choice than the usual buffalo style ones. When you're in the mood for wings, give this recipe a go. It combines tangy lemon juice with perky garlic and ginger. There's umami flavors from soy sauce and a hint of sweet honey. Sesame seeds bring in crunch and warmth. The wings get a final crisping under the broiler, caramelizing the honey, giving them a light glaze. They're sweet, salty and crave-worthy. There's also no deep fried mess. Win-win!

   

Lemon Soy Sesame Wings Recipe

Makes 24 Wings

Some Notes & Tips:

The sauce is light. But don't worry, there's enough to gently coat the wings.

The basic method of baking the wings and then broiling them, during the last few minutes of cooking, is what makes them crisp. Keep a close eye on on them once you put them under the broiler, they cook quickly. In my oven, they brown in 2-3 minutes.

I use a microplane zester to grate the garlic and ginger directly into the bowl.

Round out this meal by serving the wings with rice, my Sesame Tahini Chopped Salad,  some sliced cucumbers or steamed veggies.

Ingredients

• 2 packages of  chicken wings weighing just over two pounds (24-25 wings)
• 1-2 lemons
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
• 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of regular or lower sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of Asian sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, plus more for serving
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• Cooking spray 
• Tiny sprinkle of salt (optional) 

To Serve: lemon wedges, diced scallions, a little lemon zest

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450. Line a large baking tray with foil and spray with cooking spray. Place the wings on the tray in a single layer. Spray them with cooking spray. Add a tiny sprinkle of salt (optional). Bake them in the oven for 35 minutes, turning them over halfway through the cooking process.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, make the sauce by combining the juice of 1/2 of a lemon, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds and honey. 

Take the wings out of the oven. Turn on the broiler. Toss the wings in the bowl with the prepared sauce. Place them back on the pan. Broil them for 2-4 minutes or until they're golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle more sesame seeds over them. Squeeze some more lemon juice on them and serve with diced scallions.

Bon Appetit!