Recipe: Slow Cooker Sticky Wings (crock pot and broiler)

SLOW COOKER STICKY WINGS

"For through-and-through flavor, we borrowed an idea from barbecue pit masters and coated the wings with a spicy paste before cooking.

Achieving an acceptable level of stickiness isn't possible with a slow cooker alone. To give the wings their requisite "stick," paint the cooked wings with sauce and set them under the broiler.

When broiling the wings, the oven rack should be 10 to 12 inches from the broiler element. Don't wander off while the wings are in the oven."

1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
4 pounds chicken wings, halved at joint and wingtips removed
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup tomato paste

MAKE THE RUB:
Pulse ginger, garlic, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne in food processor until finely ground. Add mixture to slow cooker insert. Add chicken and toss until combined.

COOK AND COOL:
Cover crock pot and cook on LOW until fat renders and chicken is tender, 3 to 4 hours. Using slotted spoon, remove wings from slow cooker and transfer to clean large bowl (discard liquid in slow cooker). Let wings cool 20 minutes (or cool briefly and refrigerate up to 24 hours).

SAUCE AND BROIL:
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat broiler. Set wire rack inside rimmed baking sheet and spray rack with baking spray.

Whisk 1/4 cup water, tomato paste, remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, remaining soy sauce, and remaining cayenne in bowl. Add half of sauce to bowl with cooled wings and toss gently to coat. Arrange wings, skin side up, on prepared rack.

Broil until wings are lightly charred and crisp around edges, 10 to 15 minutes. Flip wings, brush with remaining sauce, and continue to broil until well caramelized, about 3 minutes. Serve.

Makes 12 servings
Source: Cook's Country magazine