Loading ...Middle Eastern Style Chicken Wings with Dibis --Grape Molasses Glaze
By: Blanche Shaheen/Arab America Contributing Writer
Even though I run a food blog and cooking show, there are times when I am not as motivated to spend long hours in the kitchen, especially during the summer. Moreover, during sweltering hot weather, I would rather just eat a dinner of what Arabs call “nawashif” or a collection of finger foods that don’t require cooking, like watermelon with farmer cheese, or crusty bread dipped into olive oil with za’atar spice, feta, and tomatoes. However, the family can’t live off of nawashif alone all summer, so I have a few quick meals up my sleeve that I can prepare with minimal time and mess. One of those standby meals that everyone loves is chicken wings.
Chicken Wings, the Ultimate Indulgence
Children love them because they are reminiscent of chicken nuggets, adults love them with a side of sauces, crispy celery, and a side of an ice-cold beverage. Likewise, wings are a social food, the quintessential treat to eat while watching sports, socializing at a party, or eating around a campfire. As July 29 is National Chicken Wing Day (yes this specialty has its own holiday), I figured I would share a recipe for Middle Eastern-inspired chicken wings, made with a grape molasses glaze.
Grape molasses, known as “dibis,” is a rich and smooth syrup with the sweetness of grapes with a slight tartness. Nevertheless, Arabs have appreciated Dibis not only for its robust flavor, but also for its medicinal properties. As dibis is rich in iron, this molasses is beneficial for those with anemia. This syrup is also loaded with other minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. You can eat dibis the traditional Arab way by combining it with tahini for a middle eastern style peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Or you can use dibis as the base for a variety of marinades for chicken or fish. In this chicken wing recipe, dibis adds a rich sweet flavor reminiscent of barbeque sauce, but without all of the refined and processed sugar. For best results, marinate the chicken overnight. The addition of cornstarch to the chicken ensures a crispy crust without the need for frying.
To see the video on how to make baked wings without sacrificing flavor, click on the video below:
Recipe: Chicken Wings with Dibis or “Grape Molasses” Glaze
Serves 1 as a meal, or 2 as an appetizer, feel free to double or triple the recipe for entertaining.
1 pound chicken wings
Salt to taste
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ cup olive oil
1 tbsp grape molasses
1 tsp cumin
Dash lemon pepper (optional)
Dredge the chicken wings in the cornstarch and salt to taste, set aside. For the marinade, add the grape molasses, olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, and lemon pepper. After this, shake or whisk until the olive oil is emulsified. Add the marinade to the chicken and combine–leave in the refrigerator overnight for maximum flavor. Preheat the oven to 380 degrees, and bake the chicken on the center rack for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the chicken from the oven, and flip all of them upside down. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees, place the wings on the top rack, and bake 15 minutes more. Serve immediately.
Blanche Shaheen is a journalist, host of the YouTube cooking show called Feast in the Middle East and a cookbook author. For more authentic and classical Middle Eastern recipes, you can now purchase her brand new cookbook: “Feast in the Middle East, A Personal Journey of Family and Cuisine” by clicking HERE:https://secure.mybookorders.com/Orderpage/2189
To check out her cooking video tutorials and other recipes follow Blanche on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/blanchetv
Check out Arab America’s blog here!