Crab Fat-Caramel Wings

Serves: 3

Zoie Ernser

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

51

Spice

53

Sweetness

47

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Fish Sauce

1.5 cups

Sugar

1 cup

Vodka

Directions:

1

Bring fish sauce to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook until reduced almost by half (it will darken and become pungent), about 5 minutes

2

Stir in sugar and fit saucepan with thermometer

3

Cook until thermometer registers 230°F (mixture will become thick and dark)

4

Whisk in crab paste and 1 tablespoons water until smooth

5

Reduce heat to low; keep warm until ready to dip wings

6

Fit a large pot with clean thermometer and pour in oil to measure 2"

7

Heat over medium-high heat until thermometer registers 350°F

8

Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking powder, and 1 cup cornstarch in a medium bowl

9

Whisking constantly, gradually add vodka and 1 3/4 cups water, adding more water if batter is too thick (it should be slightly thinner than cream but thicker than milk)

10

Place remaining 1/2 cup cornstarch in a shallow dish

11

Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in cornstarch, shaking off excess

12

Working in 3 batches and returning oil to 350°F between batches, coat chicken in batter, letting excess drip back into bowl, and fry until skin is golden and chicken is crisp and cooked through, about 5 minutes

13

Transfer to a wire rack set inside a baking sheet to drain

14

Using tongs, add hot wings to warm caramel, turn to coat, then transfer wings to a platter

15

Serve wings topped with peanuts and cilantro

16

Bring fish sauce to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook until reduced almost by half (it will darken and become pungent), about 5 minutes

17

Stir in sugar and fit saucepan with thermometer

18

Cook until thermometer registers 230°F (mixture will become thick and dark)

19

Whisk in crab paste and 1 tablespoons water until smooth

20

Reduce heat to low; keep warm until ready to dip wings

21

Fit a large pot with clean thermometer and pour in oil to measure 2"

22

Heat over medium-high heat until thermometer registers 350°F

23

Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking powder, and 1 cup cornstarch in a medium bowl

24

Whisking constantly, gradually add vodka and 1 3/4 cups water, adding more water if batter is too thick (it should be slightly thinner than cream but thicker than milk)

25

Place remaining 1/2 cup cornstarch in a shallow dish

26

Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in cornstarch, shaking off excess

27

Working in 3 batches and returning oil to 350°F between batches, coat chicken in batter, letting excess drip back into bowl, and fry until skin is golden and chicken is crisp and cooked through, about 5 minutes

28

Transfer to a wire rack set inside a baking sheet to drain

29

Using tongs, add hot wings to warm caramel, turn to coat, then transfer wings to a platter

30

Serve wings topped with peanuts and cilantro

31

Do ahead: Caramel sauce can be made 3 days ahead

32

Keep airtight at room temperature

33

Reheat before using

34

Caramel sauce can be made 3 days ahead

35

Keep airtight at room temperature

36

Reheat before using