Foodie Obsessed

Beer Brined Grilled Turkey Wings

by Tracey Thompson on July 3rd, 2007

 I tried another great recipe courtesy of our dear friend Emeril Lagasse this weekend, Beer Brined Grilled Turkey Wings.

I actually used skinless chicken breasts.  You can use any portion or cut of chicken or turkey with this recipe.  It was insanely simple and delicious.  My sister actually made a chicken sandwich using a great French hamburger bun, salad dressing and lettuce.

Beer Brined Grilled Turkey Wings:

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 1 hour
Inactive Prep Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
 

4 cups water
2/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons Emeril’s Southwest Essence or other Southwest seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup chopped yellow onions
1 lime, sliced thinly
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 (12-ounce) beers
5 pounds turkey wings, separated at the joints, second and third joints only (tips reserved for another use)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons Emeril’s Poultry Rub or other poultry seasoning
Bourbon BBQ Sauce, recipe follows
Spicy Garlic Ranch Dressing, recipe follows

 In a large, nonreactive container combine the water, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, salt, light brown sugar, Southwest Essenc,e and crushed red pepper and stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Add the onions, lime slices, cilantro, garlic, and beer and stir gently to combine.Add the chicken wings and position so that they are completely submerged in the brine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.

Remove the wings from the refrigerator and discard the brining solution. Pat wings dry with paper towels and set aside to come to room temperature for 30 minutes, covered. Preheat a grill to low.Brush the wings on both sides with the vegetable oil and sprinkle the Poultry Rub evenly over both sides.

Place wings on grill. Grill the wings, turning occasionally to promote even browning, until they are cooked through and the meat begins to pull away from the bones, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Serve the wings with both sauces. Let cool briefly before serving.

Bourbon BBQ Sauce:
2 (14-ounce) bottles tomato ketchup
3/4 cup bourbon
1 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon Creole or whole-grain mustard
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger

Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth, about 15 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pulse 2 or 3 times. Store in a sterilized container until ready to use.

Spicy Garlic Ranch Dressing:
2 heads garlic
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup chopped chives
1/2 teaspoon orange zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the top 1/2-inch off the head of garlic. Put the garlic in an ovenproof dish and drizzle with oil. Cook until garlic is soft, about 1 hour. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Halve the head of garlic widthwise. Press on the garlic to press out the cloves, and then put the garlic in a blender. Add the buttermilk, mayonnaise, Essence, salt, parsley, chives, and zest and pulse until blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.Emeril’s ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

I used just regular Ranch dressing and pre-cut/prepared chicken breasts to save on time.  If you don’t have all the ingredients for the Essence you can buy it in the store.

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POSTED IN: Emeril Lagasse, Grilling, Recipes