How to cook sprouts marinated wings?

Sprouts marinated wings make for a delicious and healthy appetizer or main course. The sprouts add great texture and flavor to the wings, while the marinade helps tenderize the meat and infuse it with delicious spices. This dish is easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients.

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What are the benefits of cooking with sprouts?

Sprouts are a nutritional powerhouse. Some benefits of cooking with sprouts include:

High in nutrients – Sprouts are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and fiber.

Add texture – The crunchy texture of raw sprouts adds a nice contrast to the tender chicken wings.
Boost flavor – Sprouts have a fresh, bright flavor that enhances the taste of dishes. Many sprouts have a slightly spicy or peppery taste.
Low in calories – Most sprouts are low in calories, so they make a healthy addition to recipes without adding a lot of extra calories.

Easy to digest – Since sprouts are essentially baby plants, they contain natural enzymes that make them easier to digest than fully mature plants.

Overall, sprouts give a nutritional punch and delightful crunch to recipes like these marinated wings.

What are some good sprouts to use?

Some of the best sprouts to use for sprouts marinated wings include:

Alfalfa sprouts – These have a mild flavor and crunchy texture. They add volume without overpowering the dish.
Mung bean sprouts – Mung bean sprouts have a soft, jello-like texture that contrasts nicely with the crispy wings.
Broccoli sprouts – Broccoli sprouts have a slightly spicy, nutty flavor that enhances the marinade.

Radish sprouts – These add a peppery kick and gorgeous color contrast.
Clover sprouts – Clover sprouts are delicate and pair well with the stronger flavors.
Sunflower sprouts – For another crunchy texture and a subtle nutty taste.

You can use just one variety of sprout or experiment with combinations for more complex flavor. Make sure sprouts are fresh, crisp, and clean before using.

What ingredients are needed?

The ingredients needed for sprouts marinated wings include:

Chicken wings – about 2 to 3 pounds of whole chicken wings, separated into drummettes and flats

Assorted sprouts – 1 to 2 cups of sprouts total, washed and dried
Oil – for frying and roasting the wings (vegetable, canola, peanut, etc.)

For the marinade:

Soy sauce – 2 to 4 Tablespoons
Honey or brown sugar – 1 to 2 Tablespoons
Garlic – 2 to 3 cloves, minced

Ginger – 1 Tablespoon freshly grated
Rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar – 1 to 2 Tablespoons
Asian chili sauce (optional) – 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon

Sesame oil – 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon
Spices like five-spice powder, cumin, or red pepper flakes

What equipment is required?

You don’t need any fancy equipment to make sprouts marinated wings. Here is the basic equipment you’ll need:

Baking sheet
Large bowl for tossing wings in marinade
Small bowl for mixing marinade

Frying pan or pot for frying wings, or roasting pan for oven roasting
Tongs or large spoon for tossing wings
Paper towels or wire rack for draining fried wings

Measuring spoons and cups
Knife and cutting board
Aluminum foil or parchment paper (for easy oven cleanup)

Mixing utensils like whisk, spoon, etc.

Optional but helpful equipment includes a meat mallet or rolling pin for lightly pounding the wings to flatten them slightly before marinating. This helps the marinade better penetrate the meat.

Step-by-step instructions

Follow these simple steps for making tender, flavorful sprouts marinated wings:

Prep the wings: Rinse the wings and pat them completely dry. Use a sharp knife to separate the wings at the joints into drummettes and flats if they are not already cut. Gently pound the wings with a meat mallet or rolling pin to flatten slightly.
Make the marinade: In a small bowl, combine all marinade ingredients and whisk well. Adjust flavors as desired, adding more soy sauce for saltiness, honey for sweetness, garlic for a kick, etc.
Marinate the wings: Place wings in a large bowl or zip-top bag. Pour marinade over wings and toss or massage to fully coat. Let wings marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or 1-2 hours in the fridge.

Fry or bake the wings: Drain excess marinade from wings. To fry: Heat 1-2 inches oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry wings in batches for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Or, bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 425°F for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway.
Toss with sprouts: Once wings are cooked through, take them out of the oven or remove from oil and let drain on a wire rack or paper towels. Toss hot wings with desired fresh sprouts in a bowl until combined.
Serve: Transfer wings to a platter, garnished with more sprouts if desired. Enjoy immediately while hot and crispy!

Variations

There are many ways to customize these sprouts marinated wings:

Use different sprouts like radish, sunflower, pea shoots, etc.
Experiment with wet and dry rubs on the wings before marinating.

Use grapeseed, avocado, or coconut oil for frying instead of vegetable oil.
Play with different marinade flavors like sriracha, lemongrass, orange zest, miso, etc.
Toss cooked wings with sesame seeds for added crunch.

Make them sticky wings by adding a honey glaze drizzle when they come out of the oven.
Serve with dipping sauces like blue cheese, ranch, plum sauce, etc.

Let your imagination run wild and find your favorite marinade and sprout combinations!

FAQs

Get answers to some common questions about making these sprouts marinated wings:

How long will the marinated wings keep?

The raw marinated wings can be refrigerated for 1-2 days before cooking. Once cooked, eat the wings within 3-5 days for best quality.

Can I grill the wings instead?

Absolutely! Grill over medium-high heat for about 15-20 minutes, flipping occasionally, until wings are browned and cooked through. Baste with reserved marinade during the last 5 minutes of grilling.

What’s the best way to crisp up the wings?

Frying yields the crispiest wings, but roasting in a hot oven also produces nice crispy skin. Make sure wings are patted very dry before cooking for best results.

How do I know when they’re fully cooked?

Wings are fully cooked when they register an internal temperature of at least 165°F. The meat should also separate easily from the bone.

Can I use frozen wings?

You can use frozen wings but thaw them completely first before marinating. Thawed raw wings can marinate for up to 2 days.

Conclusion

From prep to plating, sprouts marinated wings make for a fun, flavorful recipe to add variety to your appetizer repertoire. The combination of crispy seared wings, nutritious sprouts, and zesty homemade marinade takes this dish to the next level. Experiment with the many possible variations to find your favorite flavors. Enjoy these wings on game day, as a weeknight dinner, or at your next party!