sticky za'atar wings with preserved lemon honey butter

episode #3 of my wing series

It’s the levantine edition of classic lemon pepper wings

If you love the flavor combination of lemon pepper, this has your name written all over it. Za’atar replaces black pepper & preserved lemon acts as the citrus with a little honey to balance it all out.

If you’re unfamiliar with za’atar, it is a common middle eastern spice mix generally made with dried oregano, thyme & marjoram with sumac as well as toasted sesame seeds. It’s earthy, savory & tangy; a spice mix that needs little support from other ingredients.

You should be able to find it at most grocers with no issue.

Along with this powerhouse spice blend, these wings pack a punch thanks to preserved lemon brine. This ingredient is not as common & can be substituted with lemon juice. However, the flavor is more concentrated: noticeably more tart & savory.

Preserved lemon is also less bitter than its fresh counterpart & the addition of honey helps to mellow the citrus.

recipe!

sticky za’atar wings with preserved lemon honey butter

2-4 servings (main, appetizer) 10 mins prep + 20 mins cook | 30 mins total time

ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken wings

• 2 tablespoons avocado oil

• 1 1/2 tablespoons za’atar 

• 2 tablespoons baking powder

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 2 teaspoons cumin powder

• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper

• salt

for the preserved lemon honey butter

• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

• 2 1/2 tablespoons preserved lemon brine

• 1 tablespoon za’atar

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

• salt

instructions

to prepare the wings, in a bowl, combine baking powder, za’atar, garlic powder, cumin powder & black pepper. Add salt to preference. Set aside. Pat wings completely dry. Add to a bowl & drizzle with avocado oil. Toss. Sprinkle with seasoning mix. Toss again. Place wings in air fryer, at 375°F for 20-25 minutes OR 28-30 minutes (for extra crispy wings), flipping halfway through. While chicken is frying, prepare preserved lemon & za’atar butter.

Pour prepared sauce over fried wings. Toss to coat. Serve immediately alongside your favorite dipping sauce.

to prepare preserved lemon honey butter, in a bowl, combine all ingredients, minus salt, & mix to combine. Add salt to taste.