This week's posts focus on entertaining, something we all do every now and then. Wings have long been a popular party food, though the origins remain in dispute. No matter who invented them, there is no denying the permanent place wings have taken on menus across the country. Restaurants offer many types of wings, included grilled, baked, fried, with sauce or dry rub, and with or without dip.
These Cajun chicken wings are easy to prepare, just marinade and bake in the oven. With 6 full ounces of hot sauce, the marinade sounds really spicy, but the wings had a nice kick that thankfully didn't set my mouth on fire. We enjoyed them a lot and will make them again.
The recipe comes from Wings, a new cookbook from Debbie Moose. The title is self explanatory, and in it you'll find mostly easy recipes for making flavorful wings and dipping sauces for your next gathering, perhaps even a Super Bowl party.
This is the second week of celebrating my blog anniversary and birthday, and I have one copy of this tasty cookbook to give away, courtesy of Wiley. You'll get my review copy, very gently read, just leave a comment telling us about the best wings you ever tasted. Please make sure your email address is correct so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner. The book can be shipped to United States, Canada, and APO/FPO addresses. The contest closes at midnight EST on Tuesday January 13, 2009, and Random.org will select the winner. Look for the announcement of the winner in this post soon after.
UPDATE: Congratulations to Linda L, comment #15, the winner of the Wings cookbook!
Cajun Wings
Equipment
- small bowl
- gallon plastic resealable bag
- large bowl
- baking sheet lined with foil and lightly coated with nonstick spray
Ingredients
- ¾ cup hot sauce (Such as Cholula or Tabasco. Cholula hot sauces are gluten-free.)
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 12 wings (cut in half at the joint, wing tips removed and discarded)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (low salt or salt-free preferred)
Preparation
- In the small bowl, stir together the hot sauce, canola oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt.
- Place the wings in the bag and add the marinade. Shake to coat the wings and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 400° F/200° C.
- Remove the wings from the marinade, allowing the excess marinade to drip off, and place them in the large bowl. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning on and toss to coat.
- Arrange the wings on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until done. Serve hot.
Kaycee says
There is a place about 2-3 miles from me that has smoked buffalo wings. There are seriously to die for!!
jimmy says
A bunch of my friends are from the Savannah area, and for years they told me about the wings at a sport's bar called Coach's Corner, right outside of Savannah proper, near Thunderbolt Island. We finally went 1-2 year ago, and man were the good.
Large, fried long enough, and while they have many sauces, the original (and best) is the Texas Pete & Butter sauce. It's simple, but glorious.
I consider myself a wing fan, and these were definitely my best remembered wings.
Sarah says
I make mine with a simple Frank's Red Hot / Butter sauce and roast under the broiler till crispy. These have always been my favorite!
MaryAnne says
We LOVE wings here!
ok, call me stupid, but let me tell ya....I'm from the midwest originally and used to work in the burbs...there's this hideaway joint (can't remember the name) and they had SUICIDE wings...you had mild, med, hot and suicide...they were sooooo hot, if you touched them to your lips, they burned FOREVER!!!! they were so hot, but I sat there on my lunch hour devouring them with red lips (from the pepper), tears, sniffles and such a desire to go back!!! thank goodness I'm a new yorker now, HOME of the wings, YEAH!!!
LOL!
Chris says
Best ever were homemade at a friend's birthday party. Thanks for the giveaway!
Johanna B says
I love the wings sold by Hooters here in Topeka. My daughter turned me onto them. Would love to have the book. Thanks for having the contest.
yorichent at yahoo dot com
thewholegang-Diane says
I love wings. So much so that now that I've read this I have to go to the freezer and pull out my emergency stash of wings. The best wings I tasted I made from the Frank's Wing sauce recipe. Baked in the oven and then tossed in melted butter and sauce. What's not to love. Well now that I don't eat dairy the butter so I've resorted to baking them, tossing in the sauce and then bake a little longer. I'm very excited to see a cookbook dedicated to wings. I think I'm in love.
Sarah says
I didn't get into wings until recently, and my favorite wings are from a local chain where I ask them to mix their mesquite and medium sauces. Not too bad. I've made them once with a season salt and butter mix. Also not too bad, but I'd like to expand my repertoire.
Marc says
We love a recipe from Weber (the grill folks) that uses a simple marinade and then (of course) are grilled. YUMMM.
BTW...Debbie Moose is doing a book signing in Raleigh on Thursday Jan 15. Samples will be provided! I'm looking forward to it.
Peter says
I try and work wings into my diet, they are that tasty and something about eating with your hands.
Renee G says
Last fall when we were on vacation we had wings at Sonny's barbecue -- I just loved them. (possibly just because I didn't have to cook 🙂
Val says
Best ever was at a bar in Anchorage, Alaska 20 years ago. Every so often I have a flashback & try (unsuccessfully) to recreate them. This cookbook is calling to me, can't you hear it?
Oh pleeeeeeeezz,
Enjoy your site & the recipes look FABULOUS!!!
Thanks, Val
Carolyn G says
MY friend makes these incredible hot wings. THey taste spicy and sweet and they are gooey and delicious. She won't give me the recipe though.
Carol says
I remember them to this day! They were medium wings from Wild Wings in Albuquerque, NM. Exquisite!
Linda L says
My favorite wings were made by a friend. They are garlic parmessan wings. Not at all spicy, but very flavorful and yummy!
Jackie says
My neighbor makes the best hot wings I have ever tasted. I think I'm gonna try this recipe and give her a run for her title!
michele says
I'm with Sarah. My favorite wings are Frank's Red Hot and butter (half and half is perfect for my sensitive mouth). Roast the wings at a fairly high temperature until crispy, dunk in sauce and enjoy. Yum! – If you like red hot sauce, try it on top of mashed potatoes with a little melted butter!
Nancy says
The best wings I've had were at a sports bar in the Lower East Side of New York called Blue Seats. Their spicy wings are seriously spicy, not too fatty, and have a wonderful slight crispness on the outside.
Jane Fleming says
My favorite wings are from a recipe my husband and I sort of created...we marinate the wings in lemon, olive oil (small amount), garlic, salt and pepper. We then bake the wings in the oven until they are ALMOST done. Remove from oven and place on grill to finish off basting with my hubby's "secret" wing sauce with Frank's Hot Sauce.
This was actually inspired from wings we had at Gator's Dockside in Tampa, FL.
Rajee says
I just enjoyed it in the restaurants. Pls share the recipes with us.
Kym says
The best wings I ever had were a spicy hot wing with a terrific blue cheese dipping sauce, but these ones look really great too! Will definitely try them.
Brittany says
This is fate! I've been on the search for the perfect wings for a long time now. Each weekend, my friends have ordered me wings from a different place. Unfortunately, none of them have met my standards. So, I can't tell you where, but I can tell you what the perfect wings in my mind are. These wings are not breaded and soggy. They are slightly crispy on the outside, but moist on the inside. They are dripping with sauce that has a definite spicy kick, but doesn't make you burn your taste buds or lose your voice. Seeing your post made me realize that this weekend I'm going to have to make my wings. On with the search...
Melissa says
Lete me see... The best wing I ever tasted was at the buffalo wing factory. They just have the best wings ever.
Jen says
Hm.. the wings from Hot Wings are pretty good, would be better than Hooters if they came breaded. I've tried the "atomic" level from there... it wasnt in your face hot, but gave a nice slow burn. yum! thanks for the giveaway!
Andrea says
Thanks to everyone who entered! The contest is now closed, but check back in the next day or two for the announcement of the winner!