Achiote Chicken Wings

Achiote Chicken Wings

Achiote chicken wings

Achiote chicken wings

For the past several years our family has vacationed in Cancun, while there we always try to take a day trip to Isla Mujeres. There are several restaurants on the island that specialize in a dish called Tikin-Xic, basically it is a whole butterflyed fish slathered in ground annato seed and lime juice, sandwiched between two grill racks with some sliced tomato and onion and then grilled over an open wood fire. I don’t know if it is having super fresh fish, eating under a palapa on the beach next to the ocean, the actual preparation of the fish or maybe it is a combination of the three, but it is definitely one of the most sublime dishes I have eaten.

Well fast forward a few months and I decide to try the preparation on some chicken wings. They turned out great, a beautiful red color from the achiote paste, a little bit of smokey heat from the chipotle adobo and the bright and tangy citrus notes of the lime and tangerine seem to add a level of juiciness.

I suggest marinating these for at least 2 hours, and overnight if possible. I double skewer them so they don’t fall through the grill or spin on a single skewer. I cooked these over a nice bed of charcoal that had burned down a bit, so they wouldn’t burn.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb chicken wings
  • 4 oz achiote paste
  • 3 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 1/4 cup tangerine or blood orange juice
  • 4 Tbl  adobo paste from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a non metallic bowl or a ziplock bag.
  2. Add the chicken wings and marinate at least 2 hours and overnight if possible.
  3. I double skewered and cooked over charcoal trying to mimic the taste and preparation of the isla mujeres Tikin-Xic.
  4. If you don’t want to grill them you could roast them in the oven, I would suggest a hot 400 degree oven to try and crisp the skin.
  5. They are done when the internal temperature is 165.

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Achiote Chicken Wings

Achiote Chicken Wings

Achiote Chicken Wings

Achiote Chicken Wings

Achiote Chicken Wings

Achiote Chicken Wings

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