TURMERIC CHICKEN WINGS

Just in time for summer, my friend Dana gave me a copy of Sunset's: The Great Outdoors Cookbook and I have to tell you, I now have a serious jonzing to go camping, sleep under the stars, cook by the campfire... The book is packed with tasty recipes for campfire grilling, wood fire ovens, beach cookouts, and even a Caja China. So much inspiration! I'm buying a bunch of copies of this book to give to my grill-lovin' friends.

A camping trip isn't on our near horizon, but when I saw the recipe for Tamal Chicken Wings, I couldn't wait try it. The lemongrass, turmeric, garlic, cilantro rub called to me, and luckily the chicken was super easy to cook on our backyard grill (and I think this chicken would be great to feed a crowd). My whole family scarfed down the flavorful, juicy wings with smiles on their faces.

Have you cooked with turmeric before? It wasn't until we lived in Bali that I introduced this aromatic root into my kitchen. Turmeric, with its electric yellow hue, is a powerful anti-inflammatory as well as a delicious seasoning. Beware that turmeric stains like crazy: be careful of your cutting boards, food processor, anything that can quickly soak up the natural dye. Clean up turmeric immediately or you'll find a strong yellow tint is left in its wake.

INGREDIENTS lightly adapted from Sunset's The Great Outdoors Cookbook
printable recipe
  • 1 stalk fresh lemongrass (available at many Asian grocers); or 3 strips lemon zest chopped
  • 3/4 cup cilantro sprigs ( I strongly suggest using the stems as well as the leaves)
  • 8 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 chicken wings

Make your rub at least a hour before cooking, if not the night before, so that the chicken has time to really soak up the flavors.

Trim lemongrass and slice into 1/4 inch rounds. Place lemongrass in a food processor along with the cilantro, garlic, salt, turmeric, a few generous grinds of black pepper and olive oil. Blitz until the ingredients are integrated and chopped into a coarse blend. Rub mixture onto the chicken wings. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight. (Remember to immediately clean turmeric from your cutting boards and food processor to avoid stains.)

When you're ready to cook, prep a medium heat grill (350-450 degrees). Using paper towels, rub the grates with cooking oil. Grill the chicken covered for 14-16 minutes flipping occasionally until the meat is no longer pink at the bone.

Eat right away!

serves 2-4 as a main, 8 as an appetizer

59 comments:

  1. Lovely flavors and mouthwatering chicken thighs. This book looks interesting.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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    1. Thanks Rosa! If you're into camping or grilling, the book is packed with fun ideas. xoxo E

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  2. AnonymousJune 04, 2014

    The URL and title say 'thighs' but the recipe and pictures say 'wings.'

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  3. Ah, this looks great! The marinade sounds delicious.

    I have a tip for you for getting those turmeric stains out: wash with soap and water and then leave the stained cutting board (or clothes or wooden spoon or whatnot) in strong sunlight for a day or so. The stain totally disappears!

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    1. Joyti, you are a hero! My Cuisinart is now a bit stained after not taking my own advice. It's going in the sun right now.
      xoxo
      E

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  4. My mouth is watering just looking at those wings! We had a rare sunny day last weekend and every meal was enjoyed outdoors on our patio. The forecast is calling for a sunny Saturday-- might have to get grilling!

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    1. Jess, I think you'd love the flavors in this rub. So fresh and delish!
      Wishing you a sunny Saturday!
      xoxo
      E

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  5. Those look amazing! I think I could eat those all summer. We should make turmeric stains the new "in'' thing.

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    1. Carolyn;) Turmeric stains are quite pretty aren't they? Tumeric yellow... it's a thang.
      xoxo
      E

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  6. I love cooking with turmeric, the powder as well as the root. This recipe sounds really good, I just want to grab a wing from that tray!! xx

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    1. Najwa, I love turmeric too and too often I forget to use it. The fresh root is especially good isn't it?
      Wish I could share a wing with you right now:)
      xoxo
      E

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  7. Looking to give Buffalo Wings the world over a run for their money. I heart turmeric and these are going on my summer grill, for sure. And how cute is that boy of yours, even without eyes :)

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    1. Katie, thanks! I do like that boy of mine;)
      And we are digging grilled wings... they are so inexpensive, quick to cook, and damned tasty. I think this will be our go-to this summer too.
      Can't wait to see you next week.
      xoxo
      E

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  8. AnonymousJune 05, 2014

    How much fresh turmeric would you suggest?

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    1. I think you could use a tablespoon or two of fresh grated turmeric here and it would be delish!

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  9. Your photos are always so incredibly enticing. I love turmeric and often pair it with chicken - this recipe looks very similar to something we had last night in fact! Hooray for summertime and outdoor grilling :-)

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    1. Thanks Kate! I agree... hurrah for summertime grilling! Woo hoo!

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  10. UstabahippieJune 05, 2014

    Looks yummy! And you can go camping in the back yard, too!

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    1. Ustabahippie, long time no see! I hope all is well in your world. Backyard camping? Sounds good!

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  11. I adore anything from Sunset - they never disappoint! Speaking of never disappointing - this recipe that you chose is so incredibly divine. So makes me want to take a week's vacation and grill all week long. Love the photos! Hope you are enjoying the warm, warm weather we are having. Cheers!

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    1. Lisa! You would LOVE this cookbook - so packed with camping/grilling/summer goodness.
      Yep, we're enjoying the nice weather. Hope you are too!
      xoxo
      E

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  12. AnonymousJune 06, 2014

    Oh I love turmeric! And with lemongrass and chicken? This sounds like the perfect summer meal. Something about cooking outdoors makes food taste even better than usual, I've always found :) Time to go camping! Great recipe!

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    1. So true. Cooking outdoors does make everything taste better and when you're camping everything tastes particularly amazing!
      xoxo
      E

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  13. I Love using Turmeric...I use it on my whole baking chicken. I can't wait to try this recipe this weekend. Oh yes, it does stain...so move like the wind on cleanup.

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    1. Oli, a whole baked turmeric chicken sounds delish! I bet you could use this rub the same way.
      Re the staining... there's a comment above about leaving your cutting board out in the sun to remove the stain. Cool tip, eh?
      Hope you're well!
      xoxo
      E

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  14. My husband is Tunisian and they cook quite a lot with turmeric :) i really like it, and i love the colorful pop it gives to every dish :)

    thanks a lot for the recipe - we love chicken and we also love to have barbecues on our charcoal grill on weekends :) this weekend we're supposed to have nice weather, so hopefully we can enjoy such a lovely dish like you!

    have a nice weekend!
    salma

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    1. Salma, Tunsian cuisine is something I'd like to explore more. Great flavors, right?
      I hope you get good weather this weekend!
      xoxo
      E

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  15. I really don't use tumeric as often as I should in my cooking - this sounds like a wonderful way to start!

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    1. Kathryn, tumeric isn't put to heavy use in our kitchen either, but every time I do use it I'm so glad I did. I think you'll really like this recipe, it's so easy and totally satisfying.
      Hope you're well!
      xoxo
      E

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  16. Turmeric is my new favourite ingredient in the kitchen - I make a lovely tea in the morning, with ginger, honey and lemon and I've thrown it into smoothies too. Gotta love all that anti-inflammatory goodness. These wings though, look like something I need to make this summer for sure. Hope you are well!

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  17. Renee, I've been wanting to try turmeric tea. Yours sounds delish! Yes, I love the anti-inflammatory properties too... Good, tasty medicine:)
    xoxo
    E

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  18. These look so finger licking delicious, I often cook chicken wings for my children (and me!) and love new recipes, I am going to try this one next.

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    1. Thanks Anna! I realize we don't cook wing nearly enough. Now I know better;)
      xoxo to you and yours,
      E

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  19. AnonymousJune 10, 2014

    Ohhh I love turmeric in anything (especially chicken). This looks ah may zing.

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  20. So glad I've found your beautiful, sumptuous blog, Erin (by way of Emma Gardner). Will really look forward to making these wonderful dishes. And the chicken looks almost criminally good. Sophie

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    1. Thanks Sophie! So nice to meet you, via Emma:)
      xo
      E

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  21. AnonymousJune 10, 2014

    Marinaded these for 24 hours before hand. Grilled till skin slightly crispy. Now officially addicted to this recipe, might over consume but not complaining. Thanks for sharing!

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  22. I just got my hands on this book, and I love it, perhaps because grilling is so evocative of summer and its magic. But this one passed me right by. Now I want to eat the heck out of these. xoxo

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    1. Kimberley I feel the same way about the Sunset book. They really captured the spirit of summertime, camping, cooking outdoors... and the food is totally drool-worthy. These wings did not disappoint. They were finger lickin' good. I think you'll love 'em.
      xoxoxo
      E

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  23. Wow, those wings look mouthwatering! Definitely bookmarking this, because I know my BF will love these as well.
    Never heard of this book before, but since I love reading "new" (not yet available here in the Netherlands) books, it's on my list now. Thanks!

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    1. Denise, the chicken is super tasty! I'm sure you'll enjoy and I don't know if you go camping... but the book is packed with great ideas.
      I hope you're well!
      xoxo
      E

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  24. Yay! What an amazing summer BBQ dish. I made this the other night and received lots of props. Plates were cleaned....xoxo shawn

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    1. Shawn! I'm so glad your gang liked the wings! Cleaned plates are always a good sign:)
      xoxo to you,
      E

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  25. What a great way to serve chicken! And thanks for the warning about turmeric - I didn't know it stained so easily.

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    1. Beth, I hope you enjoy the recipe:)
      Joyti left a very helpful tip in a comment above. She suggests sticking anything with a turmeric stain out in the sunshine... voila stain gone. So cool!
      xo
      E

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  26. This looks like such a fun recipe for the grill! Lemongrass and cilantro always get my attention, and I love the pretty yellow of turmeric. Can't wait to try this!

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  27. It's funny, the only seasonings I have out at my cabin are salt, pepper, some sort of general seasoning, and turmeric. Some old jar of turmeric that I found somewhere at one of the places we've lived. I like the flavor quite a bit but I usually just mix it into my pasta dishes. Now I know to get a fresh jar of the stuff and go crazy with it at home!

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  28. I love this so much. I think using the same recipe to marinate chicken, fish or squid, then deep fry...should taste fantastic too... :)

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  29. This looks absolutely delicious!! My father in law is East Indian so I think I know what I am going to make him next, pretty sure he would love these. I hope you don't mind I have included your link in my link love over on my blog. Big hugs darling xx

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    1. Lyndsey, thanks for the note. And yes, I'm honored to be included in your link love. Many thanks! xoxo

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  30. This was SO good!! Thanks for sharing!!

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    1. Thanks for leaving me a note, Sarah. Much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

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  31. Thank you for your post. Its lovely or I can say it is testy..:) I really enjoyed reading. Keep Doing. Keep updating. Renew life heartburn stop

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  32. Awesome...Delicious...Mouthwatering....Looks yummy...Thanks for sharing it...

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E