Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
About this recipe
We all have that one thing we crave when we’re treating ourselves to a takeaway. For me, it’s always salt and pepper chicken wings. There’s something so satisfying about those crispy, salty, and peppery wings with that amazing, aromatic kick of chili. But, I’m currently in my money-saving era (hello, homemade meals and cutting costs!), so I thought, why not recreate them at home and make them even better? Trust me, these homemade salt and pepper chicken wings taste just like the ones from your local Chinese takeaway – crispy, flavorful, and packed with the perfect balance of heat and seasoning.
Let’s talk about these wings for a moment. The crispy, golden exterior of the chicken gives you that satisfying crunch we all love, while the seasoning hits all the right notes with a touch of spice, salt, and five-spice. And although salt and pepper chicken contains chili, don’t worry, these wings don’t pack a crazy heat punch. It’s just the right amount of warmth and aromatic flavor that adds depth to the dish without overwhelming your taste buds. Perfect for anyone who loves a little heat but isn’t looking for something too fiery.
What You’ll Need:
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about the ingredients. For these wings, you’ll need:
- Chicken Wings: 1 kg (about 2.2 lbs) of chicken wings. Make sure to wash and pat them dry – you want that batter to stick perfectly!
- Seasoning: A combination of garlic granules, Chinese five-spice, white pepper, onion granules, and salt. These spices create the classic Chinese takeaway seasoning you’re used to, giving the wings that unmistakable flavor.
- Batter: Cornflour (cornstarch) and plain flour are the key ingredients for achieving that crispy coating. No water in the batter here – you want a dry coating that sticks and fries up crisp.
- Toppings: A mix of aromatics like chopped onion, garlic, and spring onions, along with sliced red and green chilies for that little zing of heat. If you want that full Chinese takeaway experience, MSG adds that rich umami flavor, but it’s totally optional.
How to Make Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings:
Now, let’s get cooking! Here’s how you can make these wings from scratch.
1. Season the Wings
Start by seasoning your chicken wings with a mixture of garlic granules, Chinese five-spice, white pepper, onion granules, and salt. Toss the wings in the seasoning and let them marinate for about 15-20 minutes. This allows all those flavors to really sink in and coat the chicken perfectly.
2. Prepare the Batter
In a bowl, mix your cornflour and plain flour with a little bit of white pepper. This batter will be the crispy, golden crust that makes these wings so irresistible. Instead of adding water to the batter, you’ll simply dip each wing into the dry mixture and press it to ensure an even coating. This gives the wings that classic crispy coating you get from a takeaway.
3. Fry the Wings
Now for the fun part – frying! Heat up a good amount of oil in a deep fryer or frying pan over medium-high heat. Drop in a little bit of the batter to test if the oil is ready (if it sizzles right away, you’re good to go). Fry the wings in batches for about 7-10 minutes until they’re golden brown and crispy. Once they’re done, remove them from the oil and set them aside to drain on some paper towels.
4. Sauté the Toppings
In another pan, heat a little oil and sauté chopped onions until they’re softened and caramelized. Add the pressed garlic, sliced red and green chilies, and give it all a quick stir. This step brings out the rich, aromatic flavors that really elevate these wings.
5. Combine the Wings and Toppings
Once the wings are crispy and your toppings are ready, toss them together in the pan. Let the wings soak up all the delicious flavors of the garlic, onions, and chilies. Don’t forget to sprinkle over some chopped spring onions for that extra bit of freshness and crunch!
Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings FAQs
How to Reheat Salt and Pepper Chicken?
Reheat in the oven at 175°C (350°F) for 10-15 minutes or in an air fryer at 175°C for 5-7 minutes to keep them crispy.
Can I Use Chicken Nuggets for Salt and Pepper Chicken?
Yes, you can use chicken nuggets, but wings give a better texture and flavor typical of the dish.
What is Salt and Pepper Chicken Made Of?
It’s made of chicken (usually wings), seasoned with garlic, five-spice, white pepper, and onion granules, then battered and fried, and topped with sautéed onions, garlic, chilies, and spring onions.
Where Did Salt and Pepper Chicken Originate?
Salt and pepper chicken is from Cantonese Chinese cuisine and is popular in Chinese restaurants worldwide.
What should I serve my Salt and Pepper Chicken with?
In the UK, salt and pepper chicken is often served with a side of chips, egg fried rice, or noodles. You can totally go for one of these classic pairings, but feel free to get creative. These wings also make an amazing starter or appetizer on their own!
Ingredients
Chicken Seasoning
- 1kg chicken wings
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic granuels
- 1 1/2 tsp chinese five spice seasonings
- 1 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp onion granuels
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Batter
- 150g cornflour
- 150g plain flour
- 1 tsp white pepper
Additional Toppings
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 large brown onion, chopped
- 3 garlic, pressed
- 1 red chilli
- 1 green chilli
- 1 tbsp MSG
- 3 spring onions, cut in thirds green side only
For the Chicken Seasoning:
- 2 kg chicken wings
- 3 tsp garlic granules
- 3 tsp Chinese five-spice seasoning
- 3 tsp white pepper
- 3 tsp onion granules
- 3 tsp salt
For the Batter:
- 300g cornflour (cornstarch)
- 300g plain flour
- 2 tsp white pepper
For the Additional Toppings:
- 2 large brown onions, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 red chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 2 green chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 2 tbsp MSG (optional)
- 6 spring onions (green parts only), cut into thirds
- 3 kg chicken wings
- 4 1/2 tsp garlic granules
- 4 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice seasoning
- 4 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 4 1/2 tsp onion granules
- 4 1/2 tsp salt
For the Batter:
- 450g cornflour (cornstarch)
- 450g plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 3 tsp white pepper
For the Additional Toppings:
- 3 large brown onions, chopped
- 9 garlic cloves, pressed
- 3 red chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 3 green chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 3 tbsp MSG (optional)
- 9 spring onions (green parts only), cut into thirds
Ingredients
For the Chicken Seasoning:
- 2.2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic granules
- 1 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice seasoning
- 1 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp onion granules
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
For the Batter:
- 1 1/4 cups cornflour (cornstarch)
- 1 1/4 cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 1 tsp white pepper
For the Additional Toppings:
- 1 large brown onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, pressed
- 1 red chili, sliced (seeds optional)
- 1 green chili, sliced (seeds optional)
- 1 tbsp MSG (optional)
- 3 spring onions (green parts only), cut into thirds
For the Chicken Seasoning:
- 4.4 lbs chicken wings
- 3 tsp garlic granules
- 3 tsp Chinese five-spice seasoning
- 3 tsp white pepper
- 3 tsp onion granules
- 3 tsp salt
For the Batter:
- 2 1/2 cups cornflour (cornstarch)
- 2 1/2 cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 2 tsp white pepper
For the Additional Toppings:
- 2 large brown onions, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 red chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 2 green chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 2 tbsp MSG (optional)
- 6 spring onions (green parts only), cut into thirds
For the Chicken Seasoning:
- 6.6 lbs chicken wings
- 4 1/2 tsp garlic granules
- 4 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice seasoning
- 4 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 4 1/2 tsp onion granules
- 4 1/2 tsp salt
For the Batter:
- 3 3/4 cups cornflour (cornstarch)
- 3 3/4 cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 3 tsp white pepper
For the Additional Toppings:
- 3 large brown onions, chopped
- 9 garlic cloves, pressed
- 3 red chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 3 green chilies, sliced (seeds optional)
- 3 tbsp MSG (optional)
- 9 spring onions (green parts only), cut into thirds
Instructions
- Start by washing and patting your chicken wings dry with a kitchen towel. This helps to ensure the batter sticks well to the wings. In a large bowl, mix the garlic granules, Chinese five-spice, white pepper, onion granules, and salt. Toss the chicken wings in this seasoning mixture, making sure each wing is well coated. Leave them to marinate for about 15-20 minutes. This allows the seasoning to really soak in and flavor the wings.
- In a separate bowl, mix the cornflour, plain flour, and white pepper together. This flour blend will give you a wonderfully crispy coating. Instead of adding water, you can dip each seasoned wing directly into the dry batter mixture. Coat them well, pressing gently to ensure the flour sticks.
- Heat a generous amount of oil in a deep fryer or large frying pan over medium-high heat. To test the oil, drop in a small amount of the batter; if it sizzles immediately, it's ready! Carefully lower each coated wing into the hot oil. Fry the wings in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, this can cause the chicken to steam instead of fry so it wont be super crispy. Cook for about 7-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Once fried, remove them from the oil and set them on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
- In a large pan, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and stir-fry until slightly softened and lightly caramelized, about 2-4 minutes. Add the pressed garlic, red chili, and green chili, and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Sprinkle in the MSG (if using) and toss to combine.
- Once the wings are fried and the toppings are ready, add the crispy wings to the pan with the sautéed ingredients. Toss the wings in the aromatic mixture, making sure they're well coated with the onions, garlic, and chilies. Add the spring onions and give everything a quick toss. Serve immediately for the best texture!
Serving Suggestions:These Chinese salt and pepper wings are perfect for a party, as a snack, or even a main dish when paired with steamed rice. Don’t forget to serve with some extra chili sauce or soy sauce for dipping if you like a bit more heat!
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