Pok Pok-Style Hot Wings with Peanuts and Cilantro

Crispy chicken wings glazed in a sweet and savory fish sauce caramel, topped with spicy jalapeños, crunchy peanuts, and fresh cilantro. These Thai-inspired wings offer the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors.

4 servings
37 min

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated, patted dry
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ clove medium garlic clove, finely grated
  • ¼ cup fish sauce
  • whole jalapeño or serrano chiles, stemmed, seeded, finely chopped
  • ½ cup finely chopped roasted peanuts
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat oven to 500°F. Set a wire rack inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Toss wings, oil, and salt in a large bowl. Arrange wings in a single layer on rack and bake until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through, about 30 minutes.

    30 min

  2. 2.

    Heat a small saucepan over medium. Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar into pan, let melt, then add another layer (no stirring necessary). Repeat until all sugar is melted and turns into a syrup. Cook the syrup undisturbed until it becomes deep amber in color and smells nutty, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in garlic and fish sauce (it might splatter); stir until smooth.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Place cooked wings in a large bowl and toss well with glaze to coat. Add jalapeños, peanuts, and cilantro, toss, and serve.

    2 min