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Go Around the World in Chicken Wings

Football’s favorite food gets an internationally-spiced kickoff

By Joe Sevier


Published on October 28, 2015

While cheering on (or lamenting the efforts of) American football teams might be a distinctly Stateside pastime, the food we choose to eat while tailgating or crowding around our big-screeded-buddy's couch doesn't have to center on Buffalo and barbecue.

Here we've relied on some tried-and-true flavor combinations from across the globe to produce chicken wings with worlds of flavor. From Mexican-inspired smoky chipotle wings, dripping with avocado crema to coconut-braised drumettes courtesy of Indonesia—and of course, the other KFC—this collection of wings will keep the spectators happy and inspire the cook to keep cranking out the game day grub.

Indonesian Style Chicken Wings (Ayam Goreng Kuning)
Indonesian Style Chicken Wings (Ayam Goreng Kuning)

Marinated in tamarind and aromatic spices, these meltingly tender chicken wings are braised in coconut water before frying until crisp.

Marinated in tamarind and aromatic spices, these meltingly tender chicken wings are braised in coconut water before frying until crisp. Get the recipe for Indonesian Style Chicken Wings (Ayam Goreng Kuning) »

Chipotle Chicken Wings
Chipotle Wings

Chipotle Chicken Wings

Found in most supermarkets and Mexican grocers, canned chipotles in adobo make a smoky, fiery sauce for chicken wings. Serve them with avocado crema. Get the recipe for Chipotle Wings »

Spicy 'nduja, a fresh pork sausage made with Calabrian chile peppers, heats up the brick red marinade—teeming with tart lime juice, ginger, and garlic—for these char-grilled chicken wings. Get the recipe for Calabrian Chicken Wings »

Japanese Fried Chicken
Japanese-Style Chicken Wings

Sansho, the Japanese equivalent of Sichuan pepper, adds kick to these sake-and-mirin-marinated wings. A fresh squeeze of lemon brightens them up for serving. Get the recipe for Japanese-Style Chicken Wings »

Sansho, the Japanese equivalent of Sichuan pepper, adds kick to these sake-and-mirin-marinated wings. A fresh squeeze of lemon brightens them up for serving. Get the recipe for Japanese-Style Chicken Wings »

A specialty of the cart Nong's in Portland, Oregon, these sweet-spicy wings are bathed in a ketchup-soy hot sauce. Get the recipe for Spicy Thai Chicken Wings »

Beijing Chicken Wings (Mi Zhi Ji Chi Chuan)
Beijing Chicken Wings (Mi Zhi Ji Chi Chuan)

These crisp-skinned, deeply flavorful wings get their tingly, mouth-numbing spice from Sichuan peppercorns and a finishing drizzle of hot sesame–chile oil.

These crisp-skinned, deeply flavorful wings get their tingly, mouth-numbing spice from Sichuan peppercorns and a finishing drizzle of hot sesame–chile oil. Get the recipe for Beijing Chicken Wings (Mi Zhi Ji Chi Chuan) »

Harissa Hot Wings
Harissa Hot Wings

Harissa Hot Wings

Harissa, a North African paste of chiles and garlic, gives these wings their fiery kick. Serve them with a yogurt and mint dipping sauce. Get the recipe for Harissa Hot Wings »

Korean Fried Chicken
Korean Fried Chicken

Double-frying is the secret to achieving the delicate, crackly crust that is the hallmark of this popular Korean specialty. Soy sauce, gojujang (Korean chile paste), and honey work in tandem for a sweet-sour-salty-spicy-perfect wing.

Double-frying is the secret to achieving the delicate, crackly crust that is the hallmark of this popular Korean specialty. Soy sauce, gojujang (Korean chile paste), and honey work in tandem for a sweet-sour-salty-spicy-perfect wing. Get the recipe for Korean Fried Chicken »

Coriander and Lime Chicken Wings
Coriander and Lime Chicken Wings

Coriander and Lime Chicken Wings

These spicy grilled wings pair perfectly with nuoc cham, a Vietnamese dipping sauce. Get the recipe for Coriander and Lime Chicken Wings »

Shanghai Chinese Chicken Wings
Shanghai Chicken Wings

These Chinese-inspired wings are glazed in a heady sauce of hoisin, rice vinegar, chile flakes, and five-spice powder. They are equally delicious when served as part of a pupu platter or as an appetizer on their own.

These Chinese-inspired wings are glazed in a heady sauce of hoisin, rice vinegar, chile flakes, and five-spice powder. They are equally delicious when served as part of a pupu platter or as an appetizer on their own. Get the recipe for Shanghai Chicken Wings »

These are chicken wings, Filipino-style, marinated in rice vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, and garlic. Serve them with a creamy ginger-enriched dipping sauce and chile-dusted apple slices for a full bar snack. Get the recipe for Adobo Chicken Wings »

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