Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings: Harissa Honey Glaze

These sweet and spicy chicken wings are phenomenal! The harissa chili paste packs quite some heat but the sweet honey helps to balance it out perfectly.

On one of my recent trips to the grocery store, I picked up a jar of Harissa chili paste. I had never used it before but since I absolutely love spicy food, I was eager to experiment with it. Harissa is a spicy condiment that originated in North Africa but it is also used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. This condiment is made from chili peppers, olive oil, spices such as coriander and caraway and sometimes garlic as well. The bold and vibrant flavors of harissa totally won me over and I will definitely be using it one a regular basis!

Ingredients

Chicken Wings

• 1 lbs chicken wings (about 4-5 whole chicken wings)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1-1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (for a crispier skin)
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoon harissa

Harissa and Honey Glaze

• 3 tablespoons of honey
• 1/2 tablespoon of butter
• 1-1/2 teaspoon harissa
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Optional: some minced mint leaves

Instructions

Chicken Wings

1. Using a baking sheet with a rack, line the base of the sheet with aluminum foil. I also recommend brushing the rack with some olive oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.
2. Preheat the oven to 425F.
3. Clean your chicken and make sure to remove any excess fat.
4. Pat dry the chicken with paper towel. Dry it as much as possible to ensure that it gets crispy in the oven.
5. Add the olive oil, harissa chili paste, baking powder and all the spices to the chicken wings. Mix well.
6. Place the chicken wings in the oven and bake for 20 minutes on one side then flip the wings and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Optional: broil for 2-3 minutes for extra crispy skin.

Harissa and Honey Glaze

1. In a small pot, add the butter, honey, harissa paste and lemon juice.
2. Whisk on low heat for 1-2 minutes. Tip: Add the glaze while it is still hot to your chicken wings. It will adhere much better to the chicken.

These sweet and spicy chicken wings pair well with:

• Fresh salad
• Roasted potatoes