TEQUILA-LIME CHICKEN WINGS WITH SPICY AVOCADO CREMA

Tequila-Lime Chicken Wings with Spicy Avocado Crema image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Time 50m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

2 1/2 pounds chicken wings, separated into drumettes and wing pieces
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons minced red onion (about 1/4 red onion)
1 tablespoon minced seeded jalapeno (about 1/4 large jalapeno)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup tequila blanco
1/4 cup lime juice (2 to 3 limes)
2 tablespoons chipotle hot sauce
1 tablespoon light agave or honey
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
Spicy Avocado Crema, recipe follows
3/4 cup crema or sour cream
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, stems and leaves
2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1 small clove)
1 small or 1/2 large ripe avocado, cut into cubes (about 3/4 cup cubed avocado)
1/2 large jalapeno, seeded, stemmed and minced (about 2 tablespoons minced)
Kosher salt

Steps:

Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
Place the chicken wings on the prepared baking sheet. Toss with 2 tablespoons of the oil, 1 tablespoon of the salt and the black pepper. Bake until the wings are completely cooked through and just beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.
While the chicken wings bake, prepare the tequila lime sauce. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the red onion, jalapeno and garlic and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the cumin and coriander and cook until the spices are toasted and fragrant, an additional 1 minute. Add the tequila, lime juice, hot sauce and agave and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until thickened and slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Melt in the butter and cook the sauce 1 minute more. Remove from the heat.
When the wings are cooked through and beginning to brown, remove the baking sheet and turn the oven to the broiler setting. Pour the sauce over the wings, toss to coat and put them back under the broiler to crisp, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Top with the cilantro and serve immediately with the Spicy Avocado Crema.
Put the crema, cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce, garlic, avocado and jalapeno in a food processor and process until completely smooth. Season with salt. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve. Can be made 1 day in advance.