Yuzu Marinated BBQ Chicken Wings
Serves: 2 (12-14 pieces) COOK TIME: 40 min
Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit grown in the warm southern regions of Japan. It is highly aromatic and has a unique tart taste that is different from lemon and lime. This yuzu marinated BBQ chicken wings pair beautifully with the three sake bottle series of TANADA crafted by Naganomeijo, a historic sake brewery, founded in 1689. La grace, a slightly sweet sake, complements the wings’ caramelized glaze, enhancing their savory-sweet richness. Modern Dry, a sake with slightly higher acidity, balances the wings’ richness and highlights the bright citrus of the yuzu. The third TANADA bottle, a more standard, well-rounded sake, also works, as its subtle umami and clean finish enhances the savory flavors of the chicken while letting the yuzu shine, creating a versatile and harmonious pairing across all three bottles!
Pair With
TANADA (Terraced Rice Fields) Sake Series
Naganomeijo
Tasting notes
A fresh aroma and balanced umami characterize this Junmai Ginjo, made from 100% Azumino-grown Miyama Nishiki polished to 59%. – Gold Medal, National Kanzake Contest Premium Kanzake, 2021 & 2023
Ingredients
12-14 pieces of chicken wings and drumettes
2-3 TBS yuzu juice
2-3 TBS Olive oil
Salt and black pepper
4-5 TBS of your preferred BBQ sauce
Chopped green onions for garnish
Directions
Step 1
In a medium-sized bowl, place chicken wings and season them with salt and black pepper. Add yuzu juice and olive oil and mix them well to fully coat the wings with the marinating sauce.
Step 2
Chicken wings should be marinated for at least 15 minutes, or up to overnight. The longer you marinate, the more you will taste the Yuzu flavor. If a longer marination time is desired, marinate in the refrigerator.
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 450F.
Step 4
Place the marinated chicken wings on a broiler pan and bake them for about 30 minutes. Turn the wings at the 15-minute mark to ensure that the wings are fully cooked, and the skins look golden brown and crisp.
Step 5
Next, using a cooking brush, coat the baked chicken wings with your preferred BBQ sauce and return them to the oven for an additional 1-2 minutes until the sauce is nicely caramelized. While caramelizing the sauce, flip the wings again to ensure the even finish. (Note: This step takes place very quickly. Please be extra careful as it is easy to burn the wings after applying the BBQ sauce.)
Step 6
Garnish the cooked chicken wings with chopped green onions and serve it as an appetizer or as a meal with sides of mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Enjoy!