Hong Kong-style chicken wings

A lot of flavour, with relatively little fuss

“Barbecuing is a big thing in Hong Kong, and during our summer holidays there we would have had at least one trip to a ‘BBQ site’!” remembers Suzie Lee, author of Simply Chinese.

“Chicken wings are a weekly favourite in our household. My children absolutely love them. This is such an easy but delicious recipe, which makes the most of simple ingredients.”

Ingredients (Serves 4)

500g chicken wings

1tsp toasted sesame oil

3tbsp light soy sauce

3tbsp runny honey, plus extra for brushing

½tbsp garlic powder

1tsp vegetable oil

Pinch of each – salt and white pepper

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C fan (350°F/gas 4) and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Alternatively, prepare a barbecue.

2. Put the wings in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil, then boil for five minutes, skimming off the impurities or scum that float on the surface with a large spoon. Use a slotted spoon to remove the wings and keep the chicken broth for other uses. 3. While the chicken is parboiling, put the sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic, oil and salt and pepper in a bowl. Transfer the drained wings to this bowl and toss them to coat with the marinade, then let them sit for about five minutes to absorb all the flavours. The wings can also be left covered overnight in the refrigerator. If you’re baking the wings in the oven, put them on the lined baking tray and bake for 10 minutes, then remove the tray and brush with the juices and marinade from the bottom of the tray. Drizzle and brush with extra honey and roast for a further five minutes. If you’re barbecuing the wings, baste them with more honey, place them on the grill and cook for five to eight minutes on each side until slightly charred.

4. Check the wings are thoroughly cooked by cutting into them. If they aren’t yet cooked through, roast for another five minutes.