Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings

These wings are loaded with brined flavor, kissed with smoke, then deep-fried to golden brown deliciousness. Toss wings immediately with your favorite sauce as soon as they come out of the deep-fryer.

• Preparation Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 56 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 11 mins
• Calories: 274 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• vegetable oil for frying
• 4 cups water
• 2 limes, zested and juiced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 6 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
• 1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle apple juice
• 5 ice cubes
• 8 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• ⅓ cup salt
• 3 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons mustard seeds
• 1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 3 pounds chicken wings, tips removed and sections separated
• applewood chips, soaked

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine peppercorns, coriander, mustard, fennel, and cumin in a mortar and pestle; crush until fragrant and just broken.

Step 2

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Add peppercorn-seed mixture, onion, garlic, ginger, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves; bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer until flavors meld, about 25 minutes. Cool brine, about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Pour 2 cups brine into a large 10-quart plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Stir in sugar and salt until dissolved. Add chicken wings, lemon zest and juice, and lime zest and juice.

Step 4

Drop ice into the pot with the remaining brine to cool it down. Pour into the plastic container. Add enough apple juice to cover the wings. Stir well and seal container; refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.

Step 5

Preheat smoker to 275 to 300 degrees F (135 to 150 degrees C) according to manufacturer's directions.

Step 6

Rinse wings under cold tap water; dry, unstacked, on wire racks. Place the racks into the smoker. Add applewood chips according to manufacturer's directions. Smoke until chicken develops a smoky flavor but is not fully cooked, about 25 minutes. Transfer wings to a tray and pat dry with paper towels.

Step 7

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry wings, 8 to 10 at a time, until golden brown and crispy, 60 to 90 seconds.