Tandoori Chicken Wings

Ingredients

• 1 kg Chicken wings (flats or niblets)
• 0.5 inch Ginger (minced or grated)
• 3 Garlic (cloves, minced)
• 3 Green chillies (finely chopped)
• 3 tbsp Lemon juice (or juice of 1 lemon)
• 3 tbsp Oil (divided)
• 1 tsp Red chilli powder
• 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• 1 tsp Coriander powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper powder
• 1 tbsp Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Red crushed chilli
• 1 tbsp Tomato paste
• 2 tbsp Butter (melted, for finishing)
• 0.25 tsp Red food colour (optional)

Steps

1. 1

   Wash, clean, and thoroughly dry the chicken wings with a paper towel to ensure they crisp up properly.

2. 2

   In a bowl, combine all marinade ingredients (ginger, garlic, green chillies, lemon juice, oil, spices, vinegar, tomato paste, and food coloring). Reserve 2 tbsp of this mixture for later.

3. 3

   Coat the wings thoroughly with the remaining marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight for the best flavor penetration.

4. 4

   Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 7 (approx. 220°C / 425°F). Place the wings on a wire rack set over a baking tray.

5. 5

   Bake the wings for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip them over, and brush with the reserved 2 tbsp of marinade.

6. 6

   Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes at 200°C (Fan) until the wings are cooked through and crispy.

7. 7

   Remove from the oven and immediately brush with the melted butter to add shine and moisture.

8. 8

   Optional: For an authentic charcoal smoke flavor, place a piece of red-hot burning charcoal in a small metal bowl in the center of the wings, drizzle a little oil over the charcoal, and cover the dish tightly with foil for a few minutes to infuse the smoke.

Notes

If you do not have a wire rack, you can bake them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, but flipping is essential for even crisping. The charcoal smoking technique is optional but highly recommended for the authentic tandoori flavor.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• appetizer
• chicken
• baked
• grill
• spicy
• dairy-free
• gluten-free