Grilled Cumin and Chili Chicken Wings
Thank you, Sur La Table, for sponsoring this post!
Wow, how is it July 4th weekend already?! It feels like June never happened but here we are. What are your holiday plans? Are you planning on eating a hot dog somewhere? I hope there’s some macaroni salad in your future.
We’re going to have a low-key weekend at home (no surprise!). This is our first July 4th with Olive and so far she’s not too afraid of the random fireworks that have been going off every night, but we just don’t want to leave her because last year the fireworks in our neighborhood were SERIOUS. So! We will be grilling some meat, mixing a mayo-centric “salad”, and sipping on margaritas all weekend. Maybe we’ll sneak in a hike somewhere there too.
If you’re planning on grilling this weekend, or just anytime in the future, and not sure what to grill, I highly recommend these Grilled Cumin and Chili Chicken Wings! Reuben said these were one of the best things I’ve cooked all year! And I cook a lot…
This is a real simple recipe with low prep time and effort. It relies heavily on a super flavor-packed dry rub of whole cumin seeds, ground cumin, crushed red chili flakes, garlic powder, salt, and white pepper. The flavors are inspired by the skewer vendors I loved so much when I spent a summer in Beijing. They typically served lamb skewers covered in a very similar dry rub and they were just the best thing on a hot summer day with a cold beer! My first bite of these chicken wings instantly brought me back to that summer!
The best Grilling Tools!
Aside from an actual grill, there are few cooking tools that make grilling so much easier and enjoyable. First up are the grill tongs! Probably the most important tool! You want a pair of tongs that are long and comfortable to handle. Before I had a proper pair of grilling tongs, I was using my kitchen tongs and I always felt like I was going to burn my hands or forearms - risky business! I love these Acacia Wood Tongs from Sur La Table because they look beautiful but also function great! They are long enough to reach the back of the grill and make flipping wings so easy! There’s also a matching spatula for when you’re grilling burgers!
I recently started grilling with these Sur La Table Pro Ceramic Grill Grids and I’m forever changed! They make cooking more delicate vegetables on the grill so easy. How many times have you lost a spear of asparagus or green bean to the depths of the grill? With these grill grids, your veggies are secure and cook up so nicely. I preheat my grill with the grill grid inside so it gets nice and hot and toss my vegetables on top. These green beans got a wonderful char and blistered texture. And I didn’t lose a single bean!
I hope you have a great weekend of fun, relaxation, and good food! If you do make these wings, you’ll love the heat, and the earthy spice, and smoky char. They are wonderful with a crisp, cool drink and I wouldn’t blame you if you felt compelled to dip them in some kind of creamy dressing - I did it and didn’t regret it!
Cumin Chili Grilled Chicken Wings
Serves 4 to 6
Neutral-flavored oil, for grill grates
3 lb wings
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp white pepper
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tbsp crushed red chili flakes
Handful of chopped cilantro
1 lime
Oil the grill grates and preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 400-degrees).
Pat the chicken wings dry and toss in a large bowl with salt, white pepper, garlic powder, cumin seeds, ground cumin, and chili flakes.
Arrange the chicken wings on the hot grill grates, skin-side down, cover for 7 to 8 minutes. Flip and grill the underside until charred around the edges and the chicken is cooked through, another 7 to 8 minutes. Lower or increase the heat as needed (as each grill is a little different).
Transfer the wings to a serving plate and garnish with cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
Simple Grilled Sesame Green Beans
1 lb green beans, trimmed
2 tsp sesame oil
Pinch of salt
Set the ceramic grill grid over the grates and preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 400-degrees).
In a large bowl toss the green beans with sesame oil and salt.
Arrange the green beans on the grill grid and coat, tossing every few minutes, until lightly charred and blistered, about 10 minutes.